Hybrid cantaloupe plant bronco

ABSTRACT

A novel hybrid cantaloupe plant, designated BRONCO is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO, to the plants and plant parts of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO, and to methods for producing a cantaloupe plant by crossing the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO with itself or another cantaloupe plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a cantaloupe plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other cantaloupe plants derived from the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of agriculture, to a new and distinctive hybrid cantaloupe plant designated BRONCO, and to methods of making and using such hybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed inventions, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Cantaloupe is an important and valuable vegetable crop. Thus, a continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding cantaloupe hybrids that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are to maximize the amount of fruits produced on the land used (yield) as well as to improve the plant and fruit agronomic qualities. To accomplish this goal, the cantaloupe breeder must select and develop cantaloupe plants that have the traits that result in superior parental lines that combine to produce superior hybrids.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting in scope.

In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

According to the invention, there is provided a novel hybrid cantaloupe, designated BRONCO. This invention thus relates to the seeds of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, to the plants or parts thereof of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, to plants or parts thereof consisting essentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO and/or having the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO listed in Table 1 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental condition, and/or having the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO listed in Table 1 including but not limited to as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental condition. The invention also relates to variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO.

Plant parts of the hybrid cantaloupe plant of the present invention are also provided, such as i.e., a scion, a rootstock, a fruit, leaf, flower, cell, pollen or ovule obtained from the hybrid plant. The present invention provides fruits of the hybrid cantaloupe of the present invention. Such fruits could be used as fresh products for consumption or in processes resulting in processed products such as juice, prepared fruit cuts and the like. All such products are part of the present invention.

The plants and seeds of the present invention include those that may be of an essentially derived variety as defined in section 41(3) of the Plant Variety Protection Act, i.e., a variety that is predominantly derived from hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO or from a variety that i) is predominantly derived from hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO; ii) is clearly distinguishable from hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO; and iii) except for differences that result from the act of derivation, conforms to the initial variety in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety.

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating plants consisting essentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having all the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO. Preferably, the plant parts and cells used to produce such tissue cultures will be embryos, meristematic cells, seeds, callus, pollen, leaves, anthers, pistils, roots, root tips, stems, petioles, fruits, cotyledons, hypocotyls, ovaries, seed coat, fruits, endosperm, flowers or the like. Protoplasts produced from such tissue culture are also included in the present invention. The cantaloupe shoots, roots and whole plants regenerated from the tissue culture, as well as the fruits produced by said regenerated plants are also part of the invention.

The invention also discloses methods for vegetatively propagating a plant of the present invention. Such method comprise collecting a part of a hybrid plant cantaloupe designated BRONCO and regenerating a plant from said part. Such part can be for example a stem cutting that is rooted into an appropriate medium according to techniques known by the one skilled in the art. Plants, part parts and fruits thereof produced by such methods are also included in the present invention. In another aspect, the plants and fruits thereof produced by such methods consist essentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having all the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, and/or having the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO.

Further included in the invention are methods for producing fruits from the hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, said method comprising growing a hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO to produce a cantaloupe fruit and preferably harvesting the hybrid cantaloupe fruit. Such fruits are part of the present invention.

Also included in this invention are methods for producing a cantaloupe plant produced by crossing the hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO with itself or another cantaloupe plant that can be a cantaloupe hybrid or line. When crossed with another inbred line a “three-way cross” is produced. When crossed with itself or with another, different hybrid cantaloupe, a “four-way” cross is produced. Such three and four-way hybrid seeds and plants produced by growing said three and four-way hybrid seeds are included in the present invention. A method for producing a three and four-way hybrid cantaloupe seed comprising crossing hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO cantaloupe plant with a different cantaloupe line or hybrid and harvesting the resultant hybrid cantaloupe seed are also part of the invention. The hybrid cantaloupe seed produced by the method comprising crossing hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO cantaloupe plant with a different cantaloupe plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid cantaloupe seed are included in the invention, as are included the hybrid cantaloupe plant or parts thereof and seeds produced by said grown hybrid cantaloupe plants.

Further included in the invention are methods for producing a cantaloupe seed and plants made thereof, said method comprising self-pollinating the hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO and harvesting the resultant hybrid seed. Cantaloupe seed produced by such method is also part of the invention.

In another embodiment, this invention relates to a method for producing a hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO from a collection of seeds, the collection containing both inbred line of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO seeds and hybrid seeds of BRONCO. Such a collection of seed might be a commercial bag of seeds. Said method comprises planting the collection of seeds. When planted, the collection of seeds will produce inbred parent lines of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO and hybrid plants from the hybrid seeds of BRONCO. Such inbred parent lines of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO plants are identified as having a decreased vigor compared to the other plants grown from the collection of seeds. Said decreased vigor is due to the inbreeding depression effect and can be identified for example by a less vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics including a slight reduction in plant size, slightly smaller fruit size, possibly later maturity and a possible reduction in yield. If seed of the inbred lines of the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO are collected, if new inbred plants thereof are grown and crossed in a controlled manner with each other, the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO will be recreated.

This invention also relates to methods for producing other cantaloupe plants derived from hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO and to the cantaloupe plants derived by the use of those methods.

Such method for producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO comprises the steps of (a) self-pollinating the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO plant at least once to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b) and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO. In further embodiments, steps b) or c) are repeated for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.

Another method for producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO, comprises the steps of: (a) crossing the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO plant with a second cantaloupe plant to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b); (d) crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation of step (c) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO. In a further embodiment, steps b) or c) are repeated for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.

More specifically, the invention comprises methods for producing a male sterile cantaloupe plant, an herbicide resistant cantaloupe plant, an insect resistant cantaloupe plant, a disease resistant cantaloupe plant, a water-stress-tolerant plant, a heat stress tolerant plants, an improved shelf life cantaloupe plant, a cantaloupe plant with increased sweetness and flavor, a cantaloupe plant with increased sugar content, a cantaloupe plant with delayed senescence or controlled ripening or plants with improved salt tolerance. Said methods comprise transforming the hybrid designated BRONCO cantaloupe plant with nucleic acid molecules that confer male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, water-stress tolerance, heat stress tolerance, increased shelf life, increased sweetness and flavor, increased sugar content, delayed senescence or controlled ripening or improved salt tolerance, respectively. The transformed cantaloupe plants or parts thereof, obtained from the provided methods, including for example a male sterile cantaloupe plant, an herbicide resistant cantaloupe plant, an insect resistant cantaloupe plant, a disease resistant cantaloupe plant, a cantaloupe with water stress tolerance, a cantaloupe with heat stress tolerance, a cantaloupe plants with increased sweetness and flavor, a cantaloupe plants with increased sugar content, a cantaloupe plants with delayed senescence or controlled ripening or a cantaloupe plants with improved salt tolerance are included in the present invention. Plants may display one or more of the above listed traits. For the present invention and the skilled artisan, disease is understood to be fungal diseases, viral diseases, bacterial diseases, mycoplasm diseases, or other plant pathogenic diseases and a disease resistant plant will encompass a plant resistant to fungal, viral, bacterial, mycoplasm, and other plant pathogens.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for methods of introducing one or more desired trait(s) into the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO and plants or seeds obtained from such methods. The desired trait(s) may be, but not exclusively, a single gene, preferably a dominant but also a recessive allele. Preferably, the transferred gene or genes will confer such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, mycoplasma or viral disease, improved shelf life, water-stress tolerance, delayed senescence or controlled ripening, enhanced nutritional quality such as increased sugar content or increased sweetness, enhanced plant quality such as improved drought or salt tolerance, enhanced plant vigor or improve fresh cut application, specific aromatic compounds, specific volatiles, flesh texture; specific nutritional components and long shelf life (LSL). The gene or genes may be naturally occurring cantaloupe gene(s), mutant(s) or transgene(s) introduced through genetic engineering techniques. The method for introducing the desired trait(s) is preferably a backcrossing process making use of a series of backcrosses to at least one of the parent lines of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO during which the desired trait(s) is maintained by selection. The single gene conversion plants that can be obtained by the method are included in the present invention

When using a transgene, the trait is generally not incorporated into each newly developed hybrid such as BRONCO by direct transformation. Rather, the more typical method used by breeders of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate the transgene is to take a line already carrying the transgene and to use such line as a donor line to transfer the transgene into one or more of the parents of the newly developed hybrid. The same would apply for a naturally occurring trait or one arising from spontaneous or induced mutations. The backcross breeding process comprises the following steps: (a) crossing one of the parental inbred line plants of BRONCO with plants of another line that comprise the desired trait(s), (b) selecting the F1 progeny plants that have the desired trait(s); (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny plants with the parental inbred cantaloupe lines of hybrid BRONCO plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait(s) and physiological and morphological characteristics of the cantaloupe parental inbred line of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one, two, three, four, five six, seven, eight, nine or more times in succession to produce selected, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or higher backcross progeny plants that consist essentially of the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of the parental inbred cantaloupe line of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO, and/or have all the phenotypic and morphological characteristics of the parental cantaloupe inbred line of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO, and/or have the desired trait(s) and the physiological and morphological characteristics of the parental inbred cantaloupe line of cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO as determined in Table 1, including but not limited to at a 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. The cantaloupe plants or seed produced by the methods are also part of the invention, as are the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO plants that comprised the desired trait. Backcrossing breeding methods, well known to one skilled in the art of plant breeding will be further developed in subsequent parts of the specification.

In an embodiment of this invention is a method of making a backcross conversion of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO, comprising the steps of crossing one of the parental cantaloupe inbred line plants of hybrid BRONCO with a donor plant comprising a mutant gene(s), a naturally occurring gene(s), or transgene(s) conferring one or more desired trait, selecting an F1 progeny plant comprising the naturally occurring gene(s), mutant gene(s) or transgene(s) conferring the one or more desired trait, and backcrossing the selected F1 progeny plant to the parental cantaloupe inbred line plants of hybrid BRONCO. This method may further comprise the step of obtaining a molecular marker profile of the parental cantaloupe inbred line plants of hybrid BRONCO and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progeny plant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of the parental cantaloupe inbred line plants of hybrid BRONCO. This method further comprises crossing the parental inbred cantaloupe line plants of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO containing the naturally occurring gene(s), the mutant gene(s) or the transgene(s) conferring the one or more desired trait with the second parental inbred cantaloupe line plants of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO in order to produce the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO comprising the naturally occurring gene(s), the mutant gene(s) or transgene(s) conferring the one or more desired trait. The plants or parts thereof produced by such methods are also part of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the invention, the number of loci that may be backcrossed into the parental cantaloupe inbred line of hybrid BRONCO is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. A single locus may contain several transgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the same expression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide resistance. The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as a selectable marker and/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specific integration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at the converted locus.

The invention further provides methods for developing cantaloupe plants in a cantaloupe plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques including recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, molecular marker (Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites, etc.) enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and transformation. Seeds, cantaloupe plants, and parts thereof produced by such breeding methods are also part of the invention.

The invention also relates to variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of the cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO or inbred parental lines thereof. Variants, mutants and trivial modifications of the seed or plant of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO or inbred parental lines thereof can be generated by methods available to one skilled in the art, including but not limited to, mutagenesis (e.g., chemical mutagenesis, radiation mutagenesis, transposon mutagenesis, insertional mutagenesis, signature tagged mutagenesis, site-directed mutagenesis, and natural mutagenesis), knock-outs/knock-ins, antisense and RNA interference. For more information of mutagenesis in plants, such as agents, protocols, see Acquaah et al. (Principles of plant genetics and breeding, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007, ISBN 1405136464, 9781405136464, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entity).

The invention also relates to a mutagenized population of the hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO and methods of using such populations. In some embodiments, the mutagenized population can be used in screening for new cantaloupe plants which comprises one or more or all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO. In some embodiments, the new cantaloupe plants obtained from the screening process comprise all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO, and one or more additional or different morphological and physiological characteristics that the cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO does not have.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a cantaloupe plant by crossing a first parent cantaloupe plant with a second parent cantaloupe plant wherein either the first or second parent cantaloupe plant is a hybrid cantaloupe plant of BRONCO. Further, both first and second parent cantaloupe plants can come from the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO. Further, the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO can be self-pollinated i.e. the pollen of a hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO can pollinate the ovule of the same hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO. When crossed with another cantaloupe plant, a hybrid seed is produced. Such methods of hybridization and self-pollination are well known to those skilled in the art of breeding.

An inbred cantaloupe line such as one of the parental lines of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO has been produced through several cycles of self-pollination and is therefore to be considered as a homozygous line. An inbred line can also be produced though the dihaploid system which involves doubling the chromosomes from a haploid plant or embryo thus resulting in an inbred line that is genetically stable (homozygous) and can be reproduced without altering the inbred line: Haploid plants could be obtained from haploid embryos that might be produced from microspores, pollen, anther cultures or ovary cultures. The haploid embryos may then be doubled by chemical treatments such as by colchicine or be doubled autonomously. The haploid embryos may also be grown into haploid plants and treated to induce the chromosome doubling. In either case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. A hybrid variety is classically created through the fertilization of an ovule from an inbred parental line by the pollen of another, different inbred parental line. Due to the homozygous state of the inbred line, the produced gametes carry a copy of each parental chromosome. As both the ovule and the pollen bring a copy of the arrangement and organization of the genes present in the parental lines, the genome of each parental line is present in the resulting F1 hybrid, theoretically in the arrangement and organization created by the plant breeder in the original parental line.

As long as the homozygosity of the parental lines is maintained, the resulting hybrid cross shall be stable. The F1 hybrid is then a combination of phenotypic characteristics issued from two arrangement and organization of genes, both created by a man skilled in the art through the breeding process.

Still further, this invention also is directed to methods for producing a hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO-derived cantaloupe plant by crossing hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO with a second cantaloupe plant and growing the progeny seed, and possibly repeating the crossing and growing steps with the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO-derived plant from 0 to 7 times. Thus, any such methods using the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants produced using hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO as a parent are within the scope of this invention, including plants derived from hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO. Such plants might exhibit additional and desired characteristics or traits such as high seed yield, high seed germination, seedling vigor, early fruit maturity, high fruit yield, ease of fruit setting, disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a preference for a given fruit size, shape, color, texture, and taste are other traits that may be incorporated into new cantaloupe plants developed by this invention.

A cantaloupe plant can also be propagated vegetatively. A part of the plant, for example a shoot tissue, is collected, and a new plant is obtained from the part. Such part typically comprises an apical meristem of the plant. The collected part is transferred to a medium allowing development of a plantlet, including for example rooting or development of shoots, or is grafted onto a cantaloupe plant or a rootstock prepared to support growth of shoot tissue. This is achieved using methods well-known in the art. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating a plant of the present invention comprises collecting a part of a plant according to the present invention, e.g. a shoot tissue, and obtaining a plantlet from said part. In one embodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating a plant of the present invention comprises: a) collecting tissue of a plant of the present invention; b) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. In one embodiment, a method of vegetatively propagating a plant of the present invention comprises: a) collecting tissue of a plant of the present invention; b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. In one embodiment, such method further comprises growing a plant from said plantlets. In one embodiment, a fruit is harvested from said plant. In one embodiment, the fruit is processed into products such as canned cantaloupe, juice, fresh cut fruits and the like.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a seed of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid is deposited under NCIMB No ______.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the deposited BRONCO seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches cantaloupe plant parts, wherein the cantaloupe part is selected from the group consisting of: a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, a cell a rootstock, and a scion.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, having all of the characteristics of hybrid BRONCO as listed in Table 1 of this application.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, having all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid was deposited under NCIMB No ______.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plant or plant part grown from the deposited BRONCO seed, wherein cells of the tissue culture are produced from a plant part selected from the group consisting of protoplasts, embryos, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, ovules, flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, stems, petioles, fruits, cotyledons and hypocotyls. In some embodiments, the plant part includes protoplasts produced from a plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a cantaloupe plant regenerated from the tissue culture from a plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed, said plant having the characteristics of hybrid BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid is deposited under NCIMB No ______.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches a cantaloupe fruit produced from the plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed.

In some embodiments, methods of producing said cantaloupe fruit comprise a) growing the cantaloupe plant from deposited BRONCO seed to produce a cantaloupe fruit, and b) harvesting said cantaloupe fruit. In some embodiments, the present invention also teaches a cantaloupe fruit produced by the method of producing cantaloupe fruit as described above.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producing a cantaloupe seed comprising crossing a first parent cantaloupe plant with a second parent cantaloupe plant and harvesting the resultant cantaloupe seed, wherein said first parent cantaloupe plant and/or second parent cantaloupe plant is the cantaloupe plant produced from the deposited BRONCO seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producing a cantaloupe seed comprising self-pollinating the cantaloupe plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed and harvesting the resultant cantaloupe seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches the seed produced by any of the above described methods.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods of vegetatively propagating the cantaloupe plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed, said method comprising a) collecting part of a plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed and b) regenerating a plant from said part.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises harvesting a fruit from said vegetatively propagated plant.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches the plant and the fruit of plants vegetatively propagated from plant parts of plants grown from the deposited BRONCO seed.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods of producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO, the method comprising the steps of: (a) self-pollinating the plant of grown from the deposited BRONCO seed at least once to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b), and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO. In some embodiments said method further comprises the step of: (d) repeating steps b) or c) for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods of producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO, the methods comprising the steps of: (a) crossing the plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed with a second cantaloupe plant to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b); (d) crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation of step (c) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO. In some embodiments said method further comprises the steps of: (d) repeating step b) or c) for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant, the methods comprising crossing a first cantaloupe plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed with a second cantaloupe plant containing a transgene, wherein the transgene of said second cantaloupe plant is integrated into the genome of the cantaloupe plant progeny resulting from said cross, and wherein the transgene confers said cantaloupe plant progeny with at least one trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, and improved salt tolerance.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches methods for producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant, the method comprising transforming at least one transgene into a hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO plant, or a plant part or a plant cell thereof or parental line used for producing the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO, a sample seed of said hybrid having been deposited under NCIMB Accession No. ______, thereby producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches cantaloupe plants and cantaloupe fruits produced by any of the above-described methods of producing transgenic cantaloupes. Thus, in some embodiments, the present invention teaches a plant grown from the deposited BRONCO seed, further comprising a transgene. In some embodiments, said transgenic cantaloupe comprise transgenes which confer said plant with a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, and improved salt tolerance.

In some embodiments, the present invention teaches plants grown from the deposited BRONCO seed wherein said plants comprise at least one single locus conversion. In some embodiments said single locus conversion confers said plant with a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, long shelf life, specific aromatic compounds and improved salt tolerance. In some embodiments, the at least one single locus conversion is an artificially mutated gene.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of the following descriptions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

In the description and tables that follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

Abscission zone. This is the zone of abscission or separation of the fruit from the peduncle at maturity (controlled by ethylene). The resulting zone (or scar) ranges in size, small being preferred over large—range small (<10 mm), medium (10-15 mm), large (15-20 mm), very large (>20 mm)

Allele. An allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene which relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a first generation hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotype of the F₁ hybrid.

Blossom scar. This is the remnant scar from the stigmatic surface of the blossom. There is a very broad range in sizes, small is better. Range is small (<10 mm), medium (10-20 mm), large (20-40 mm) and very large (>40 mm).

Cavity. As used herein, cavity refers to the center of the cantaloupe fruit containing seeds and maternal tissues. Cavity measurements are made on a single fruit or recorded as an average of many fruit at harvest maturity and recorded in a convenient unit of measure. Cavity ratings: 1=very poor (non marketable), 3=poor (non marketable), 5=average (marketable) 7=very good (much better than industry standards), 9=superior (further improvement not attainable).

Cavity to overall fruit diameter, ratio. Cavity to Diameter ratio is a measure of the cavity size compared to the overall fruit size of a single fruit or the average of many fruit at harvest maturity and recorded in a convenient unit of measure. In some embodiments lower ratios of fruit cavity to overall fruit diameter are desired.

Collection of seeds. In the context of the present invention a collection of seeds is a grouping of seeds mainly containing similar kind of seeds, for example hybrid seeds having the inbred line of the invention as a parental line, but that may also contain, mixed together with this first kind of seeds, a second, different kind of seeds, of one of the inbred parent lines, for example the inbred line of the present invention. A commercial bag of hybrid seeds having the inbred line of the invention as a parental line and containing also the inbred line seeds of the invention would be, for example such a collection of seeds.

Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics. A plant having essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics means a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent, except for the characteristics derived from the converted gene.

Grafting. Grafting is the operation by which a rootstock is grafted with a scion. The primary motive for grafting is to avoid damages by soil-born pest and pathogens when genetic or chemical approaches for disease management are not available. Grafting a susceptible scion onto a resistant rootstock can provide a resistant cultivar without the need to breed the resistance into the cultivar. In addition, grafting may enhance tolerance to abiotic stress, increase yield and result in more efficient water and nutrient uses.

Immunity to disease(s) and or insect(s). A cantaloupe plant which is not subject to attack or infection by specific disease(s) and or insect(s) is considered immune.

Intermediate/Moderate resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A cantaloupe plant that restricts the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s), but may exhibit a greater range of symptoms or damage compared to high/standard resistant plants. Intermediate resistant plants will usually show less severe symptoms or damage than susceptible plant varieties when grown under similar environmental conditions and/or specific disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure, but may have heavy damage under heavy pressure. Intermediate resistant tomato plants are not immune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

Long shelf life (LSL). Long shelf life melons are melon where the inhibition of a normal ripening pattern results in delayed maturity, but increased field holding and harvest flexibility.

Monecious. The term used to describe a plant variety where each flower exhibits only one sexual character (either male or female) and each plant has flowers of both sexes.

Netting. The height and density of the netting (reticulation) that covers orange flesh melons. Range is fine, medium, medium coarse and coarse. (i.e.—a fine net would be low and would have noticeable space between the net, a coarse net would be quite high and almost completely cover the fruit exterior. Ideal net is medium or medium coarse. Netting can also be assigned a descriptive number 1=fine net to 10 coarse net.

Number of Boxes per Acre. The Number of Boxes per Acre—6's, 9's, 12's, 15's, 18's or 23's refers to the number of fruit that fit into a standard cantaloupe box.

Overall Rating. A final or Overall Rating is assigned to variety performance or a varieties characteristic in test or trial situations of a variety. Overall Rating can range from 1=very poor to 10 excellent.

Oval. Oval is used to describe fruit shape when the length is greater than the width and ranges from a slight oval, oval to heavy oval.

Plant Cell. Plant cell, as used herein includes plant cells whether isolated, in tissue culture or incorporated in a plant or plant part.

Plant Part. As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which cantaloupe plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, seeds, fruit, rootstock, scions, stems, roots, anthers, pistils, root tips, leaves, meristematic cells, axillary buds, hypocotyls cotyledons, ovaries, seed coat endosperm and the like.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Quantitative trait loci refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.

Resistance to disease(s) and or insect(s). A cantaloupe plant that restricts highly the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s) under normal disease(s) and or insect(s) attack pressure when compared to susceptible plants. These cantaloupe plants can exhibit some symptoms or damage under heavy disease(s) and or insect(s) pressure. Resistant cantaloupe plants are not immune to the disease(s) and or insect(s).

Rind Contrast. A subjective measure of the color difference between the rind and the fruit flesh. 1=no contrast to 10=excellent contrast.

Rootstock. A rootstock is the lower part of a plant capable of receiving a scion in a grafting process.

Season maturity or maturity. Maturity is considered the date of the onset of harvest and is classified as Very Early, Early, Mid Early, Main and Late or specified by recording the date of the onset of harvest. In some embodiments, under summer conditions in Davis Calif., very early maturity is reached within 72-76 days, early maturity is within 76-80 days, mid early maturity is within 80-84 days, main maturity is between 84-88 days, and late maturity is between 88-92 days.

Scion: A scion is the higher part of a plant capable of being grafted onto a rootstock in a grafting process.

Single gene converted (conversion). Single gene converted (conversion) plants refer to plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a plant are recovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the plant via the backcrossing technique or via genetic engineering.

Susceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s). A cantaloupe plant that is susceptible to disease(s) and or insect(s) is defined as a cantaloupe plant that has the inability to restrict the growth and development of specific disease(s) and or insect(s). Plants that are susceptible will show damage when infected and are more likely to have heavy damage under moderate levels of specific disease(s) and or insect(s).

Shape. Refers to external fruit shape. Range is Flat Round, Round, round oval, oval, elongate.

Soluble Solids. Soluble solids refer to the percent of solid material found in the fruit tissue, the vast majority of which is sugars. Soluble solids are estimated with a refractometer and measured as degrees Brix. Soluble Solids vary with environment. For example, for California summer growing conditions the following range would apply. Very high (>12.5%), high (11.5-12.5%), medium (10.5-11.5%), low <10.5%).

Tolerance to abiotic stresses. A cantaloupe plant that is tolerant to abiotic stresses has the ability to endure abiotic stress without serious consequences for growth, appearance and yield.

Uniformity. Uniformity, as used herein, describes the similarity between plants or plant characteristics which can be a described by qualitative or quantitative measurements.

Variety. A plant variety as used by one skilled in the art of plant breeding means a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank which can be defined by the expression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination of phenotypes, distinguished from any other plant grouping by the expression of at least one of the said characteristics and considered as a unit with regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged (International convention for the protection of new varieties of plants).

Vine Overall. An overall rating assigned to the performance of a plant's vine. Vine Overall can range from 1=very poor to 10 excellent.

Yield. Yield Type is defined as concentrated, semi concentrated or extended. Concentrated=harvested yield produced in consecutive (4-5 days) of harvest. Semi concentrated=harvested yield produced within 7-9 days. Extended=harvested yield is produced over the course of 10-14 days. The Fruit Set may also be defined accordingly to the same criteria, i.e. very concentrated, when the plant sets all of its fruit at nearly the same time; concentrated, when the plant sets all its fruits in a short period of time; semi concentrated, when fruit set is less uniform; and extended, when the plant sets and matures fruit to allow picking over a long period of time.

Yield Rating is defined an overall rating assigned to yield. Yield Rating can range from 1=very poor to 9 excellent.

Cantaloupe Plants

Practically speaking, all cultivated forms of cantaloupe belong to the highly polymorphic species Cucumis melo L. that is grown for its sweet edible fruit. The term cantaloupe, as used herein, refers to the American usage of the term which is used to describe the netted melons commonly referred to as cantaloupe or muskmelon in U.S. commerce. As a crop, cantaloupes are grown commercially wherever environmental conditions permit the production of an economically viable yield. They are produced on non-climbing vines that are cultivated prostrate on the soil. On healthy plants there is a canopy of large, soft, hairy leaves, generally heart shaped and somewhat lobed. Fruits may be orange fleshed or green fleshed.

The fruit surface is generally netted and roughened and in some varieties sutured. Fruit shape is generally round to oval and ranges in size from five to eight inches long and about equal in diameter. Cantaloupe is considered a very tender warm season crop but can be produced in all areas of the World where optimum temperatures of 65-75 F occur for at least 120 frost-free days. Commercial yields are considered “good” when over 20,000 of marketable fruit are harvested per acre. Typically, productions fields are harvested multiple times by hand and the fruit may be picked before ripening and shipped long distances to the end market. In the United States, the principal fresh market cantaloupe growing regions are California, Arizona and Texas which produce approximately 96,000 acres out of a total annual acreage of more than 113,000 acres (USDA, 1998).

Fresh cantaloupes are available in the United States year-round although the greatest supply is from June through October. Fresh cantaloupes are consumed in many forms. They are eaten sliced or diced and used as an ingredient in many prepared foods, such as the popular consumption of melon pieces wrapped in prosciutto ham.

Cucumis melo is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae. The Cucurbitaceae is a family of about 90 genera and 700 to 760 species, mostly of the tropics. The family includes pumpkins, squashes, gourds, watermelon, loofah and several weeds. The genus Cucumis, to which the cantaloupe, cucumbers, and several melons belong, includes about 70 species. Cucumis melo includes a wide range of cultivated plants. Although crosses outside the species are sterile, intraspecific crosses are generally fertile, resulting in a confusing range of variation. The more common cultivated plants fall into four main groups. First are the true cantaloupes of Europe. These have thick, scaly, rough, often deeply grooved, but not netted rinds. Second are the muskmelons, mostly grown in the United States, where they are incorrectly called cantaloupes. These have finely netted rinds with shallow ribs. Third are the casaba or winter melons with large fruits. These have smooth, often yellow rinds. The honeydew melons are in this third group. Fourth are a group of elongated melons of India, China and Japan which are grown as vegetables. Other classification schemes and cultivars could be presented.

Cantaloupe is a simple diploid species with twelve pairs of highly differentiated chromosomes. The Cucumis melo genome includes over 375 Mb of sequence with an estimated 27,427 protein-coding genes (Garcia-Mas et al., (2012. The genome of melon (Cucumis melo L.). PNAS July issue).

Large field spaces are required for cantaloupe and the need for labor intensive hand pollination for self as well as cross pollination has resulted in a lag in the knowledge of cantaloupe genetics relative to such crops as tomato. Cantaloupe flowers open after sunrise; the exact time depends on environmental conditions such as sunlight, temperature and humidity. The flower closes permanently in the afternoon of the same day. Almost all pollen is collected and transferred before noon. Typically flowers are staminate although some are also hermaphroditic. Although hermaphroditic flowers are self-fertile, they are incapable of performing self-pollination. Insects are required for pollination. The primary pollinators are bees, particularly honey bees.

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety or hybrid an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm.

In cantaloupe, these important traits may include higher yield, field performance, fruit and agronomic quality such as sugar levels, small cavity size, flesh color or texture, rind firmness or strong net, resistance to diseases and insects, ease of fruit setting, adaptability for soil and climate conditions, field holding, harvest flexibility and tolerance to drought and heat.

Particularly desirable traits that may be incorporated by this invention are improved resistance to different viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens and improved resistance to insect pests. Important diseases include but are not limited to Powdery mildew (Sphaerothica fuligenea), Fusarium wilt race 0,1,2 (Fusarium oxysporum melonis), Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis), Cucumber mosaic virus, watermelon mosaic virus, zucchini mosaic virus, papaya ringspot virus, melon aphid (aphys gossyppi).

Other desirable traits include traits related to improved cantaloupe fruits. A non-limiting list of fruit phenotypes used during breeding selection include:

-   -   Firm fruit exterior. Fruit Firmness subjectively tested under         field conditions for resistance of fruit exterior against a         given pressure. Range is soft, medium, firm and very firm.     -   Flesh color. Flesh color is defined as degree of intensity of         orange. Flesh color ratings 1=very poor (non marketable), 3=poor         (non marketable), 5=average (marketable) 7=very good (much         better than industry standards), 9=superior (further improvement         not attainable).     -   Flesh firmness. Flesh firmness subjectively tested under field         conditions for resistance of flesh against a given pressure.         Firmness ratings 1=very poor (non marketable), 3=poor (non         marketable), 5=average (marketable) 7=very good (much better         than industry standards), 9=superior (further improvement not         attainable).     -   Fruit Diameter. The cross-sectional diameter of a single fruit         of the average of many fruit measured at harvest maturity and         recorded in a convenient unit of measure.     -   Fruit Length. The longitudinal length of a single fruit or the         average of many fruit measure from stem to blossom end at         harvest maturity and recorded in a convenient unit of measure.     -   Fruit size. Western Shipper fruit size determined two ways 1/.         Range in kilograms: small (below 1.5), medium (1.5-1.8), large         (1.8-2.2), very large (above 2.2) 2/. # Fruit that fit into a         standard western melon packing box: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 23, 30.         Small: some 18's, 23's, 30's, Medium: some 12's, 15's 18's,         Large: 9's, 12's, few 15's and Extra Large: few 6's, 9's few         12's.     -   Fruit Weight. The weight of a single fruit or the average of         many fruit measured at harvest maturity and recorded in a         convenient unit of measure.

Cantaloupe Breeding

The goal of cantaloupe breeding is to develop new, unique and superior cantaloupe inbred lines and hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producing many new genetic combinations. Another method used to develop new, unique and superior cantaloupe inbred lines and hybrids occurs when the breeder selects and crosses two or more parental lines followed by haploid induction and chromosome doubling that result in the development of dihaploid inbred lines. The breeder can theoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations via crossing, selfing and mutations and the same is true for the utilization of the dihaploid breeding method.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections are then made, during and at the end of the growing season. The inbred lines developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is because the breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control at the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures or dihaploid breeding procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large research monies to develop superior new cantaloupe inbred lines and hybrids.

The development of commercial cantaloupe hybrids requires the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and the evaluation of the hybrid crosses.

Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more inbred lines or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which inbred lines are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes or through the dihaploid breeding method followed by the selection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which have commercial potential.

Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of cultivar used commercially (e.g., F₁ hybrid cultivar, pureline cultivar, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified pedigree selection, mass selection, recurrent selection, and backcross breeding.

i Pedigree Selection

Pedigree breeding is used commonly for the improvement of self-pollinating crops or inbred lines of cross-pollinating crops. Two parents possessing favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one or several F₁s or by intercrossing two F₁s (sib mating). The dihaploid breeding method could also be used. Selection of the best individuals is usually begun in the F₂ population; then, beginning in the F₃, the best individuals in the best families are selected. Replicated testing of families, or hybrid combinations involving individuals of these families, often follows in the F₄ generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential use as parents of new hybrid cultivars. Similarly, the development of new inbred lines through the dihaploid system requires the selection of the best inbreds followed by two to five years of testing in hybrid combinations in replicated plots.

ii Backcross Breeding

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simply inherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous cultivar or inbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to be transferred is called the donor parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., cultivar) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.

The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to planting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When the population has been advanced from the F2 to the desired level of inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace to different F2 individuals. The number of plants in a population declines each generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plants to produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F2 plants originally sampled in the population will be represented by a progeny when generation advance is completed.

In a multiple-seed procedure, breeders commonly harvest one or more fruit containing seed from each plant in a population and blend them together to form a bulk seed lot. Part of the bulked seed is used to plant the next generation and part is put in reserve. The procedure has been referred to as modified single-seed descent or the bulk technique.

The multiple-seed procedure has been used to save labor at harvest. It is considerably faster than removing one seed from each fruit by hand for the single seed procedure. The multiple-seed procedure also makes it possible to plant the same number of seeds of a population each generation of inbreeding. Enough seeds are harvested to make up for those plants that did not germinate or produce seed.

Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., R. W. Allard, 1960, Principles of Plant Breeding, John Wiley and Son, pp. 115-161; N. W. Simmonds, 1979, Principles of Crop Improvement, Longman Group Limited; W. R. Fehr, 1987, Principles of Crop Development, Macmillan Publishing Co.; N. F. Jensen, 1988, Plant Breeding Methodology, John Wiley & Sons).

When the term hybrid cantaloupe plant is used in the context of the present invention, this also includes any hybrid cantaloupe plant where one or more desired trait has been introduced through backcrossing methods, whether such trait is a naturally occurring one, a mutant or a transgenic one. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce one or more characteristic into the inbred parental line of the hybrid cantaloupe plant of the present invention. The term “backcrossing” as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to the recurrent parent, i.e., backcrossing one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental cantaloupe plant which contributes the gene or the genes for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental cantaloupe plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original inbred of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second inbred (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the gene or genes of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cantaloupe plant is obtained wherein all the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, generally determined at a 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions, in addition to the gene or genes transferred from the nonrecurrent parent. It has to be noted that some, one, two, three or more, self-pollination and growing of population might be included between two successive backcrosses. Indeed, an appropriate selection in the population produced by the self-pollination, i.e. selection for the desired trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent might be equivalent to one, two or even three additional backcrosses in a continuous series without rigorous selection, saving then time, money and effort to the breeder. A non-limiting example of such a protocol would be the following: a) the first generation F1 produced by the cross of the recurrent parent A by the donor parent B is backcrossed to parent A, b) selection is practiced for the plants having the desired trait of parent B, c) selected plant are self-pollinated to produce a population of plants where selection is practiced for the plants having the desired trait of parent B and physiological and morphological characteristics of parent A, d) the selected plants are backcrossed one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or more times to parent A to produce selected backcross progeny plants comprising the desired trait of parent B and the physiological and morphological characteristics of parent A. Step (c) may or may not be repeated and included between the backcrosses of step (d).

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute one or more trait(s) or characteristic(s) in the original inbred parental line in order to find it then in the hybrid made thereof. To accomplish this, a gene or genes of the recurrent inbred is modified or substituted with the desired gene or genes from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological, constitution of the original inbred. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomically important trait(s) to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic(s) or trait(s) being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a single gene and dominant allele, multiple genes and recessive allele(s) may also be transferred and therefore, backcross breeding is by no means restricted to character(s) governed by one or a few genes. In fact the number of genes might be less important that the identification of the character(s) in the segregating population. In this instance it may then be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic(s) has been successfully transferred. Such tests encompass visual inspection, simple crossing, but also follow up of the characteristic(s) through genetically associated markers and molecular assisted breeding tools. For example, selection of progeny containing the transferred trait is done by direct selection, visual inspection for a trait associated with a dominant allele, while the selection of progeny for a trait that is transferred via a recessive allele, such as the waxy starch characteristic in corn, require selfing the progeny to determine which plant carry the recessive allele(s).

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new parental inbred of a hybrid cantaloupe plant according to the invention but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not be transgenic. Examples of these traits include but are not limited to, male sterility (such as a PR glucanase gene or the ms1, ms2, ms3, ms4 or ms5 genes), herbicide resistance (such as bar or PAT genes), gynoecia (such as the g gene), resistance for bacterial, fungal (genes Fom-1 and Fom-2 for resistance to fusarium wilt), or viral disease (gene nsv for resistance to melon necrotic spot virus, gene ZYM for the resistance to the zucchini yellow mosaic virus), insect resistance (gene Vat for resistance to Aphis gossypii), male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, enhanced sugar content, yield stability and yield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through the nucleus. Some known exceptions to this are the genes for male sterility, some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as single gene traits. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,196; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of which are specifically hereby incorporated by reference.

In 1981, the backcross method of breeding counted for 17% of the total breeding effort for inbred line development in the United States, accordingly to, Hallauer, A. R. et al. (1988) “Corn Breeding” Corn and Corn Improvement, No. 18, pp. 463-481.

The backcross breeding method provides a precise way of improving varieties that excel in a large number of attributes but are deficient in a few characteristics. (Page 150 of the Pr. R. W. Allard's 1960 book, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc, Principles of Plant Breeding). The method makes use of a series of backcrosses to the variety to be improved during which the character or the characters in which improvement is sought is maintained by selection. At the end of the backcrossing the gene or genes being transferred unlike all other genes, will be heterozygous. Selfing after the last backcross produces homozygosity for this gene pair(s) and, coupled with selection, will result in a parental line of a hybrid variety with exactly the adaptation, yielding ability and quality characteristics of the recurrent parent but superior to that parent in the particular characteristic(s) for which the improvement program was undertaken. Therefore, this method provides the plant breeder with a high degree of genetic control of his work.

The method is scientifically exact because the morphological and agricultural features of the improved variety could be described in advance and because the same variety could, if it were desired, be bred a second time by retracing the same steps (Briggs, “Breeding wheats resistant to bunt by the backcross method”, 1930 Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 22: 289-244).

Backcrossing is a powerful mechanism for achieving homozygosity and any population obtained by backcrossing must rapidly converge on the genotype of the recurrent parent. When backcrossing is made the basis of a plant breeding program, the genotype of the recurrent parent will be modified only with regards to genes being transferred, which are maintained in the population by selection.

Successful backcrosses are, for example, the transfer of stem rust resistance from ‘Hope’ wheat to ‘Bart wheat’ and even pursuing the backcrosses with the transfer of bunt resistance to create ‘Bart 38’, having both resistances. Also highlighted by Allard is the successful transfer of mildew, leaf spot and wilt resistances in California Common alfalfa to create ‘Caliverde’. This new ‘Caliverde’ variety produced through the backcross process is indistinguishable from California Common except for its resistance to the three named diseases.

One of the advantages of the backcross method is that the breeding program can be carried out in almost every environment that will allow the development of the character being transferred.

The backcross technique is not only desirable when breeding for disease resistance but also for the adjustment of morphological characters, colour characteristics and simply inherited quantitative characters such as earliness, plant height and seed size and shape. In this regard, a medium grain type variety, ‘Calady’, has been produced by Jones and Davis. As dealing with quantitative characteristics, they selected the donor parent with the view of sacrificing some of the intensity of the character for which it was chosen, i.e. grain size. ‘Lady Wright’, a long grain variety was used as the donor parent and ‘Coloro’, a short grain one as the recurrent parent. After four backcrosses, the medium grain type variety ‘Calady’ was produced.

iii Open-Pollinated Populations

The improvement of open-pollinated populations of such crops as rye, many maizes and sugar beets, herbage grasses, legumes such as alfalfa and clover, and tropical tree crops such as cacao, coconuts, oil palm and some rubber, depends essentially upon changing gene-frequencies towards fixation of favorable alleles while maintaining a high (but far from maximal) degree of heterozygosity.

Uniformity in such populations is impossible and trueness-to-type in an open-pollinated variety is a statistical feature of the population as a whole, not a characteristic of individual plants. Thus, the heterogeneity of open-pollinated populations contrasts with the homogeneity (or virtually so) of inbred lines, clones and hybrids.

Population improvement methods fall naturally into two groups, those based on purely phenotypic selection, normally called mass selection, and those based on selection with progeny testing. Interpopulation improvement utilizes the concept of open breeding populations; allowing genes to flow from one population to another. Plants in one population (cultivar, strain, ecotype, or any germplasm source) are crossed either naturally (e.g., by wind) or by hand or by bees (commonly Apis mellifera L. or Megachile rotundata F.) with plants from other populations. Selection is applied to improve one (or sometimes both) population(s) by isolating plants with desirable traits from both sources.

There are basically two primary methods of open-pollinated population improvement.

First, there is the situation in which a population is changed en masse by a chosen selection procedure. The outcome is an improved population that is indefinitely propagable by random-mating within itself in isolation.

Second, the synthetic variety attains the same end result as population improvement, but is not itself propagable as such; it has to be reconstructed from parental lines or clones. These plant breeding procedures for improving open-pollinated populations are well known to those skilled in the art and comprehensive reviews of breeding procedures routinely used for improving cross-pollinated plants are provided in numerous texts and articles, including: Allard, Principles of Plant Breeding, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1960); Simmonds, Principles of Crop Improvement, Longman Group Limited (1979); Hallauer and Miranda, Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding, Iowa State University Press (1981); and, Jensen, Plant Breeding Methodology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (1988).

A) Mass Selection

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self- or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued. In mass selection, desirable individual plants are chosen, harvested, and the seed composited without progeny testing to produce the following generation. Since selection is based on the maternal parent only, and there is no control over pollination, mass selection amounts to a form of random mating with selection. As stated above, the purpose of mass selection is to increase the proportion of superior genotypes in the population.

B) Synthetics

A synthetic variety is produced by crossing inter se a number of genotypes selected for good combining ability in all possible hybrid combinations, with subsequent maintenance of the variety by open pollination. Whether parents are (more or less inbred) seed-propagated lines, as in some sugar beet and beans (Vicia) or clones, as in herbage grasses, clovers and alfalfa, makes no difference in principle. Parents are selected on general combining ability, sometimes by test crosses or toperosses, more generally by polycrosses. Parental seed lines may be deliberately inbred (e.g. by selfing or sib crossing). However, even if the parents are not deliberately inbred, selection within lines during line maintenance will ensure that some inbreeding occurs. Clonal parents will, of course, remain unchanged and highly heterozygous.

Whether a synthetic can go straight from the parental seed production plot to the farmer or must first undergo one or more cycles of multiplication depends on seed production and the scale of demand for seed. In practice, grasses and clovers are generally multiplied once or twice and are thus considerably removed from the original synthetic.

While mass selection is sometimes used, progeny testing is generally preferred for polycrosses, because of their operational simplicity and obvious relevance to the objective, namely exploitation of general combining ability in a synthetic.

The number of parental lines or clones that enters a synthetic varies widely. In practice, numbers of parental lines range from 10 to several hundred, with 100-200 being the average. Broad based synthetics formed from 100 or more clones would be expected to be more stable during seed multiplication than narrow based synthetics.

iv. Hybrids

A hybrid is an individual plant resulting from a cross between parents of differing genotypes. Commercial hybrids are now used extensively in many crops, including corn (maize), sorghum, sugarbeet, sunflower and broccoli. Hybrids can be formed in a number of different ways, including by crossing two parents directly (single cross hybrids), by crossing a single cross hybrid with another parent (three-way or triple cross hybrids), or by crossing two different hybrids (four-way or double cross hybrids).

Strictly speaking, most individuals in an out breeding (i.e., open-pollinated) population are hybrids, but the term is usually reserved for cases in which the parents are individuals whose genomes are sufficiently distinct for them to be recognized as different species or subspecies. Hybrids may be fertile or sterile depending on qualitative and/or quantitative differences in the genomes of the two parents. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is usually associated with increased heterozygosity that results in increased vigor of growth, survival, and fertility of hybrids as compared with the parental lines that were used to form the hybrid. Maximum heterosis is usually achieved by crossing two genetically different, highly inbred lines.

Hybrid commercial cantaloupe seed is produced by hand pollination. Pollen of the male parent is harvested and manually applied to the stigmatic surface of the female inbred. Prior to, and after hand pollination, flowers are covered so that insects do not bring foreign pollen and create a mix or impurity. Flowers are tagged to identify pollinated fruit from which seed will be harvested.

Once the inbreds that give the best hybrid performance have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parent is maintained. A single-cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to produce the F1 progeny. A double-cross hybrid is produced from four inbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F1 hybrids are crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor and uniformity exhibited by F1 hybrids is lost in the next generation (F2). Consequently, seed from F2 hybrid varieties is not used for planting stock.

The production of hybrids is a well-developed industry, involving the isolated production of both the parental lines and the hybrids which result from crossing those lines. For a detailed discussion of the hybrid production process, see, e.g., Wright, Commercial Hybrid Seed Production 8:161-176, In Hybridization of Crop Plants.

v. Bulk Segregation Analysis (BSA)

BSA, a.k.a. bulked segregation analysis, or bulk segregant analysis, is a method described by Michelmore et al. (Michelmore et al., 1991, Identification of markers linked to disease-resistance genes by bulked segregant analysis: a rapid method to detect markers in specific genomic regions by using segregating populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 99:9828-9832) and Quarrie et al. (Quarrie et al., 1999, Journal of Experimental Botany, 50(337):1299-1306).

For BSA of a trait of interest, parental lines with certain different phenotypes are chosen and crossed to generate F2, doubled haploid or recombinant inbred populations with QTL analysis. The population is then phenotyped to identify individual plants or lines having high or low expression of the trait. Two DNA bulks are prepared, one from the individuals having one phenotype (e.g., resistant to virus), and the other from the individuals having reversed phenotype (e.g., susceptible to virus), and analyzed for allele frequency with molecular markers. Only a few individuals are required in each bulk (e.g., 10 plants each) if the markers are dominant (e.g., RAPDs). More individuals are needed when markers are co-dominant (e.g., RFLPs). Markers linked to the phenotype can be identified and used for breeding or QTL mapping.

vi. Hand-Pollination Method

Hand pollination describes the crossing of plants via the deliberate fertilization of female ovules with pollen from a desired male parent plant. In some embodiments the donor or recipient female parent and the donor or recipient male parent line are planted in the same field. The inbred male parent can be planted earlier than the female parent to ensure adequate pollen supply at the pollination time. In some embodiments, the male parent and female parent can be planted at a ratio of 1 male parent to 4-10 female parents. The diploid male parent may be planted at the top of the field for efficient male flower collection during pollination. Pollination is started when the female parent flower is ready to be fertilized. Female flower buds that are ready to open in the following days are identified, covered with paper cups or small paper bags that prevent bee or any other insect from visiting the female flowers, and marked with any kind of material that can be easily seen the next morning. In some embodiments, this process is best done in the afternoon. The male flowers of the diploid male parent are collected in the early morning before they are open and visited by pollinating insects. The covered female flowers of the female parent, which have opened, are un-covered and pollinated with the collected fresh male flowers of the diploid male parent, starting as soon as the male flower sheds pollen. The pollinated female flowers are again covered after pollination to prevent bees and any other insects visit. The pollinated female flowers are also marked. The marked fruits are harvested. In some embodiments, the male pollen used for fertilization has been previously collected and stored.

vii. Bee-Pollination Method

Using the bee-pollination method, the parent plants are usually planted within close proximity. In some embodiments more female plants are planted to allow for a greater production of seed. Breeding of dioecious species can also be done by growing equal amount of each parent plant. Beehives are placed in the field for transfer of pollen by bees from the male parent to the female flowers of the female parent. In some embodiments, fruits set after the introduction of the beehives can be marked for later collection.

viii. Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes (TILLING)

Breeding schemes of the present application can include crosses with TILLING® plant lines. TILLING® is a method in molecular biology that allows directed identification of mutations in a specific gene. TILLING® was introduced in 2000, using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. TILLING® has since been used as a reverse genetics method in other organisms such as zebrafish, corn, wheat, rice, soybean, tomato and lettuce.

The method combines a standard and efficient technique of mutagenesis with a chemical mutagen (e.g., Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)) with a sensitive DNA screening-technique that identifies single base mutations (also called point mutations) in a target gene. EcoTILLING is a method that uses TILLING® techniques to look for natural mutations in individuals, usually for population genetics analysis (see Comai, et al., 2003 The Plant Journal 37, 778-786; Gilchrist et al. 2006 Mol. Ecol. 15, 1367-1378; Mejlhede et al. 2006 Plant Breeding 125, 461-467; Nieto et al. 2007 BMC Plant Biology 7, 34-42, each of which is incorporated by reference hereby for all purposes). DEcoTILLING is a modification of TILLING® and EcoTILLING which uses an inexpensive method to identify fragments (Garvin et al., 2007, DEco-TILLING: An inexpensive method for SNP discovery that reduces ascertainment bias. Molecular Ecology Notes 7, 735-746).

The TILLING® method relies on the formation of heteroduplexes that are formed when multiple alleles (which could be from a heterozygote or a pool of multiple homozygotes and heterozygotes) are amplified in a PCR, heated, and then slowly cooled. A “bubble” forms at the mismatch of the two DNA strands (the induced mutation in TILLING® or the natural mutation or SNP in EcoTILLING), which is then cleaved by single stranded nucleases. The products are then separated by size on several different platforms.

Several TILLING® centers exists over the world that focus on agriculturally important species: UC Davis (USA), focusing on Rice; Purdue University (USA), focusing on Maize; University of British Columbia (CA), focusing on Brassica napus; John Innes Centre (UK), focusing on Brassica rapa; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, focusing on Arabidopsis; Southern Illinois University (USA), focusing on Soybean; John Innes Centre (UK), focusing on Lotus and Medicago; and INRA (France), focusing on Pea and Tomato.

More detailed description on methods and compositions on TILLING® can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,075, US 2004/0053236 A1, WO 2005/055704, and WO 2005/048692, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Thus in some embodiments, the breeding methods of the present disclosure include breeding with one or more TILLING plant lines with one or more identified mutations.

viii Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits into cantaloupe plants. Mutations that occur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources of variability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis is to increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutation rates can be increased by many different means or mutating agents including temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, radiation (such as X-rays, Gamma rays, neutrons, Beta radiation, or ultraviolet radiation), chemical mutagens (such as base analogs like 5-bromo-uracil), antibiotics, alkylating agents (such as sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethyleneamines, sulfates, sulfonates, sulfones, or lactones), azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid or acridines. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis the trait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditional breeding techniques. Details of mutation breeding can be found in W. R. Fehr, 1993, Principles of Cultivar Development, Macmillan Publishing Co.

New breeding techniques such as the ones involving the uses of Zinc Finger Nucleases or oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis shall also be used to generate genetic variability and introduce new traits into cantaloupe varieties.

ix. Double Haploids and Chromosome Doubling

One way to obtain homozygous plants without the need to cross two parental lines followed by a long selection of the segregating progeny, and/or multiple back-crossings is to produce haploids and then double the chromosomes to form doubled haploids. Haploid plants can occur spontaneously, or may be artificially induced via chemical treatments or by crossing plants with inducer lines (Seymour et al. 2012, PNAS vol 109, pg 4227-4232; Zhang et al., 2008 Plant Cell Rep. Dec. 27(12) 1851-60). The production of haploid progeny can occur via a variety of mechanisms which can affect the distribution of chromosomes during gamete formation. The chromosome complements of haploids sometimes double spontaneously to produce homozygous doubled haploids (DH5). Mixoploids, which are plants which contain cells having different ploidies, can sometimes arise and may represent plants that are undergoing chromosome doubling so as to spontaneously produce doubled haploid tissues, organs, shoots, floral parts or plants. Another common technique is to induce the formation of double haploid plants with a chromosome doubling treatment such as colchicine (El-Hennawy et al., 2011 Vol 56, issue 2 pg 63-72; Doubled Haploid Production in Crop Plants 2003 edited by Maluszynski ISBN 1-4020-1544-5). The production of doubled haploid plants yields highly uniform inbred lines and is especially desirable as an alternative to sexual inbreeding of longer-generation crops. By producing doubled haploid progeny, the number of possible gene combinations for inherited traits is more manageable. Thus, an efficient doubled haploid technology can significantly reduce the time and the cost of inbred and cultivar development.

x. Protoplast Fusion

In another method for breeding plants, protoplast fusion can also be used for the transfer of trait-conferring genomic material from a donor plant to a recipient plant. Protoplast fusion is an induced or spontaneous union, such as a somatic hybridization, between two or more protoplasts (cells of which the cell walls are removed by enzymatic treatment) to produce a single bi- or multi-nucleate cell. The fused cell that may even be obtained with plant species that cannot be interbred in nature is tissue cultured into a hybrid plant exhibiting the desirable combination of traits.

xi. Embryo Rescue

Alternatively, embryo rescue may be employed in the transfer of resistance-conferring genomic material from a donor plant to a recipient plant. Embryo rescue can be used as a procedure to isolate embryo's from crosses wherein plants fail to produce viable seed. In this process, the fertilized ovary or immature seed of a plant is tissue cultured to create new plants (see Pierik, 1999, In vitro culture of higher plants, Springer, ISBN 079235267x, 9780792352679, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Breeding Evaluation

Each breeding program can include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful cultivars produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.).

Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested per se and in hybrid combination and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s). The best lines are candidates for use as parents in new commercial cultivars; those still deficient in a few traits may be used as parents to produce new populations for further selection.

In one embodiment, the plants are selected on the basis of one or more phenotypic traits. Skilled persons will readily appreciate that such traits include any observable characteristic of the plant, including for example growth rate, height, weight, color, taste, smell, changes in the production of one or more compounds by the plant (including for example, metabolites, proteins, drugs, carbohydrates, oils, and any other compounds).

A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and to a widely grown standard cultivar. If a single observation is inconclusive, replicated observations provide a better estimate of its genetic worth.

Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level of superiority or improvement over current cultivars. In addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new cultivar that is compatible with industry standards or which creates a new market. The introduction of a new cultivar will incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for special advertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial production practices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release of a new cultivar should take into consideration research and development costs as well as technical superiority of the final cultivar. For seed-propagated cultivars, it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically.

It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments, plants may be selected based on the absence, suppression or inhibition of a certain feature or trait (such as an undesirable feature or trait) as opposed to the presence of a certain feature or trait (such as a desirable feature or trait).

Selecting plants based on genotypic information is also envisaged (for example, including the pattern of plant gene expression, genotype, or presence of genetic markers). Where the presence of one or more genetic marker is assessed, the one or more marker may already be known and/or associated with a particular characteristic of a plant; for example, a marker or markers may be associated with an increased growth rate or metabolite profile. This information could be used in combination with assessment based on other characteristics in a method of the disclosure to select for a combination of different plant characteristics that may be desirable. Such techniques may be used to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs). By way of example, plants may be selected based on growth rate, size (including but not limited to weight, height, leaf size, stem size, branching pattern, or the size of any part of the plant), general health, survival, tolerance to adverse physical environments and/or any other characteristic, as described herein before.

Further non-limiting examples include selecting plants based on: speed of seed germination; quantity of biomass produced; increased root, and/or leaf/shoot growth that leads to an increased yield (herbage or grain or fiber or oil) or biomass production; effects on plant growth that results in an increased seed yield for a crop; effects on plant growth which result in an increased fruit yield; effects on plant growth that lead to an increased resistance or tolerance disease including fungal, viral or bacterial diseases or to pests such as insects, mites or nematodes in which damage is measured by decreased foliar symptoms such as the incidence of bacterial or fungal lesions, or area of damaged foliage or reduction in the numbers of nematode cysts or galls on plant roots, or improvements in plant yield in the presence of such plant pests and diseases; effects on plant growth that lead to increased metabolite yields; effects on plant growth that lead to improved aesthetic appeal which may be particularly important in plants grown for their form, color or taste, for example the color intensity and form of cantaloupe rinds or flesh, or the taste of said fruit.

Molecular Breeding Evaluation Techniques

Selection of plants based on phenotypic or genotypic information may be performed using techniques such as, but not limited to: high through-put screening of chemical components of plant origin, sequencing techniques including high through-put sequencing of genetic material, differential display techniques (including DDRT-PCR, and DD-PCR), nucleic acid microarray techniques, RNA-seq (Whole Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing), qRTPCR (quantitative real time PCR).

In one embodiment, the evaluating step of a plant breeding program involves the identification of desirable traits in progeny plants. Progeny plants can be grown in, or exposed to conditions designed to emphasize a particular trait (e.g. drought conditions for drought tolerance, lower temperatures for freezing tolerant traits). Progeny plants with the highest scores for a particular trait may be used for subsequent breeding steps.

In some embodiments, plants selected from the evaluation step can exhibit a 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 120% or more improvement in a particular plant trait compared to a control plant.

In other embodiments, the evaluating step of plant breeding comprises one or more molecular biological tests for genes or other markers. For example, the molecular biological test can involve probe hybridization and/or amplification of nucleic acid (e.g., measuring nucleic acid density by Northern or Southern hybridization, PCR) and/or immunological detection (e.g., measuring protein density, such as precipitation and agglutination tests, ELISA (e.g., Lateral Flow test or DAS-ELISA), Western blot, RIA, immune labeling, immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), and/or dot blot).

The procedure to perform a nucleic acid hybridization, an amplification of nucleic acid (e.g., RT-PCR) or an immunological detection (e.g., precipitation and agglutination tests, ELISA (e.g., Lateral Flow test or DAS-ELISA), Western blot, RIA, immunogold or immunofluorescent labeling, immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), and/or dot blot tests) are performed as described elsewhere herein and well-known by one skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the evaluating step comprises PCR (semi-quantitative or quantitative), wherein primers are used to amplify one or more nucleic acid sequences of a desirable gene, or a nucleic acid associated with said gene or a desirable trait (e.g., a co-segregating nucleic acid, or other marker).

In another embodiment, the evaluating step comprises immunological detection (e.g., precipitation and agglutination tests, ELISA (e.g., Lateral Flow test or DAS-ELISA), Western blot, RIA, immuno labeling (gold, fluorescent, or other detectable marker), immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), and/or dot blot), wherein one or more gene or marker-specific antibodies are used to detect one or more desirable proteins. In one embodiment, said specific antibody is selected from the group consisting of polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, and combination thereof.

Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) can be utilized in the present disclosure to determine expression of a gene to assist during the selection step of a breeding scheme. It is a variant of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a laboratory technique commonly used in molecular biology to generate many copies of a DNA sequence, a process termed “amplification”. In RT-PCR, however, RNA strand is first reverse transcribed into its DNA complement (complementary DNA, or cDNA) using the enzyme reverse transcriptase, and the resulting cDNA is amplified using traditional or real-time PCR.

RT-PCR utilizes a pair of primers, which are complementary to a defined sequence on each of the two strands of the cDNA. These primers are then extended by a DNA polymerase and a copy of the strand is made after each cycle, leading to logarithmic amplification.

RT-PCR includes three major steps. The first step is the reverse transcription (RT) where RNA is reverse transcribed to cDNA using a reverse transcriptase and primers. This step is very important in order to allow the performance of PCR since DNA polymerase can act only on DNA templates. The RT step can be performed either in the same tube with PCR (one-step PCR) or in a separate one (two-step PCR) using a temperature between 40° C. and 50° C., depending on the properties of the reverse transcriptase used.

The next step involves the denaturation of the dsDNA at 95° C., so that the two strands separate and the primers can bind again at lower temperatures and begin a new chain reaction. Then, the temperature is decreased until it reaches the annealing temperature which can vary depending on the set of primers used, their concentration, the probe and its concentration (if used), and the cations concentration. The main consideration, of course, when choosing the optimal annealing temperature is the melting temperature (Tm) of the primers and probes (if used). The annealing temperature chosen for a PCR depends directly on length and composition of the primers. This is the result of the difference of hydrogen bonds between A-T (2 bonds) and G-C (3 bonds). An annealing temperature about 5 degrees below the lowest Tm of the pair of primers is usually used.

The final step of PCR amplification is the DNA extension from the primers which is done by the thermostable Taq DNA polymerase usually at 72° C., which is the optimal temperature for the polymerase to work. The length of the incubation at each temperature, the temperature alterations and the number of cycles are controlled by a programmable thermal cycler. The analysis of the PCR products depends on the type of PCR applied. If a conventional PCR is used, the PCR product is detected using agarose gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide (or other nucleic acid staining)

Conventional RT-PCR is a time-consuming technique with important limitations when compared to real time PCR techniques. This, combined with the fact that ethidium bromide has low sensitivity, yields results that are not always reliable. Moreover, there is an increased cross-contamination risk of the samples since detection of the PCR product requires the post-amplification processing of the samples. Furthermore, the specificity of the assay is mainly determined by the primers, which can give false-positive results. However, the most important issue concerning conventional RT-PCR is the fact that it is a semi or even a low quantitative technique, where the amplicon can be visualized only after the amplification ends.

Real time RT-PCR provides a method where the amplicons can be visualized as the amplification progresses using a fluorescent reporter molecule. There are three major kinds of fluorescent reporters used in real time RT-PCR, general non specific DNA Binding Dyes such as SYBR Green I, TaqMan Probes and Molecular Beacons (including Scorpions).

The real time PCR thermal cycler has a fluorescence detection threshold, below which it cannot discriminate the difference between amplification generated signal and background noise. On the other hand, the fluorescence increases as the amplification progresses and the instrument performs data acquisition during the annealing step of each cycle. The number of amplicons will reach the detection baseline after a specific cycle, which depends on the initial concentration of the target DNA sequence. The cycle at which the instrument can discriminate the amplification generated fluorescence from the background noise is called the threshold cycle (Ct). The higher is the initial DNA concentration, the lower its Ct will be.

Other forms of nucleic acid detection can include next generation sequencing methods such as DNA SEQ or RNA SEQ using any known sequencing platform including, but not limited to: Roche 454, Solexa Genome Analyzer, AB SOLiD, Illumina GA/HiSeq, Ion PGM, Mi Seq, among others (Liu et al., 2012 Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology Volume 2012 ID 251364; Franca et al., 2002 Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics 35 pg 169-200; Mardis 2008 Genomics and Human Genetics vol 9 pg 387-402).

In other embodiments, nucleic acids may be detected with other high throughput hybridization technologies including microarrays, gene chips, LNA probes, nanoStrings, and fluorescence polarization detection among others.

In some embodiments, detection of markers can be achieved at an early stage of plant growth by harvesting a small tissue sample (e.g., branch, or leaf disk). This approach is preferable when working with large populations as it allows breeders to weed out undesirable progeny at an early stage and conserve growth space and resources for progeny which show more promise. In some embodiments the detection of markers is automated, such that the detection and storage of marker data is handled by a machine. Recent advances in robotics have also led to full service analysis tools capable of handling nucleic acid/protein marker extractions, detection, storage and analysis.

Quantitative Trait Loci

Breeding schemes of the present application can include crosses between donor and recipient plants. In some embodiments said donor plants contain a gene or genes of interest which may confer the plant with a desirable phenotype. The recipient line can be an elite line having certain favorite traits such for commercial production. In one embodiment, the elite line may contain other genes that also impart said line with the desired phenotype. When crossed together, the donor and recipient plant may create a progeny plant with combined desirable loci which may provide quantitatively additive effect of a particular characteristic. In that case, QTL mapping can be involved to facilitate the breeding process.

A QTL (quantitative trait locus) mapping can be applied to determine the parts of the donor plant's genome conferring the desirable phenotype, and facilitate the breeding methods. Inheritance of quantitative traits or polygenic inheritance refers to the inheritance of a phenotypic characteristic that varies in degree and can be attributed to the interactions between two or more genes and their environment. Though not necessarily genes themselves, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are stretches of DNA that are closely linked to the genes that underlie the trait in question. QTLs can be molecularly identified to help map regions of the genome that contain genes involved in specifying a quantitative trait. This can be an early step in identifying and sequencing these genes.

Typically, QTLs underlie continuous traits (those traits that vary continuously, e.g. yield, height, level of resistance to virus, etc.) as opposed to discrete traits (traits that have two or several character values, e.g. smooth vs. wrinkled peas used by Mendel in his experiments). Moreover, a single phenotypic trait is usually determined by many genes. Consequently, many QTLs are associated with a single trait.

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) is a region of DNA that is associated with a particular phenotypic trait—these QTLs are often found on different chromosomes. Knowing the number of QTLs that explains variation in the phenotypic trait tells about the genetic architecture of a trait. It may tell that a trait is controlled by many genes of small effect, or by a few genes of large effect.

Another use of QTLs is to identify candidate genes underlying a trait. Once a region of DNA is identified as contributing to a phenotype, it can be sequenced. The DNA sequence of any genes in this region can then be compared to a database of DNA for genes whose function is already known.

In a recent development, classical QTL analyses are combined with gene expression profiling i.e. by DNA microarrays. Such expression QTLs (e-QTLs) describes cis- and trans-controlling elements for the expression of often disease-associated genes. Observed epistatic effects have been found beneficial to identify the gene responsible by a cross-validation of genes within the interacting loci with metabolic pathway- and scientific literature databases.

QTL mapping is the statistical study of the alleles that occur in a locus and the phenotypes (physical forms or traits) that they produce (see, Meksem and Kahl, The handbook of plant genome mapping: genetic and physical mapping, 2005, Wiley-VCH, ISBN 3527311165, 9783527311163). Because most traits of interest are governed by more than one gene, defining and studying the entire locus of genes related to a trait gives hope of understanding what effect the genotype of an individual might have in the real world.

Statistical analysis is required to demonstrate that different genes interact with one another and to determine whether they produce a significant effect on the phenotype. QTLs identify a particular region of the genome as containing a gene that is associated with the trait being assayed or measured. They are shown as intervals across a chromosome, where the probability of association is plotted for each marker used in the mapping experiment.

To begin, a set of genetic markers must be developed for the species in question. A marker is an identifiable region of variable DNA. Biologists are interested in understanding the genetic basis of phenotypes (physical traits). The aim is to find a marker that is significantly more likely to co-occur with the trait than expected by chance, that is, a marker that has a statistical association with the trait. Ideally, they would be able to find the specific gene or genes in question, but this is a long and difficult undertaking Instead, they can more readily find regions of DNA that are very close to the genes in question. When a QTL is found, it is often not the actual gene underlying the phenotypic trait, but rather a region of DNA that is closely linked with the gene.

For organisms whose genomes are known, one might now try to exclude genes in the identified region whose function is known with some certainty not to be connected with the trait in question. If the genome is not available, it may be an option to sequence the identified region and determine the putative functions of genes by their similarity to genes with known function, usually in other genomes. This can be done using BLAST, an online tool that allows users to enter a primary sequence and search for similar sequences within the BLAST database of genes from various organisms.

Another interest of statistical geneticists using QTL mapping is to determine the complexity of the genetic architecture underlying a phenotypic trait. For example, they may be interested in knowing whether a phenotype is shaped by many independent loci, or by a few loci, and do those loci interact. This can provide information on how the phenotype may be evolving.

Molecular markers are used for the visualization of differences in nucleic acid sequences. This visualization is possible due to DNA-DNA hybridization techniques (RFLP) and/or due to techniques using the polymerase chain reaction (e.g. STS, microsatellites, AFLP). All differences between two parental genotypes will segregate in a mapping population based on the cross of these parental genotypes. The segregation of the different markers may be compared and recombination frequencies can be calculated. The recombination frequencies of molecular markers on different chromosomes are generally 50%. Between molecular markers located on the same chromosome the recombination frequency depends on the distance between the markers. A low recombination frequency corresponds to a low distance between markers on a chromosome. Comparing all recombination frequencies will result in the most logical order of the molecular markers on the chromosomes. This most logical order can be depicted in a linkage map (Paterson, 1996, Genome Mapping in Plants. R. G. Landes, Austin.). A group of adjacent or contiguous markers on the linkage map that is associated to a reduced disease incidence and/or a reduced lesion growth rate pinpoints the position of a QTL.

The nucleic acid sequence of a QTL may be determined by methods known to the skilled person. For instance, a nucleic acid sequence comprising said QTL or a resistance-conferring part thereof may be isolated from a donor plant by fragmenting the genome of said plant and selecting those fragments harboring one or more markers indicative of said QTL. Subsequently, or alternatively, the marker sequences (or parts thereof) indicative of said QTL may be used as (PCR) amplification primers, in order to amplify a nucleic acid sequence comprising said QTL from a genomic nucleic acid sample or a genome fragment obtained from said plant. The amplified sequence may then be purified in order to obtain the isolated QTL. The nucleotide sequence of the QTL, and/or of any additional markers comprised therein, may then be obtained by standard sequencing methods.

One or more such QTLs associated with a desirable trait in a donor plant can be transferred to a recipient plant to make incorporate the desirable train into progeny plants by transferring and/or breeding methods.

In one embodiment, an advanced backcross QTL analysis (AB-QTL) is used to discover the nucleotide sequence or the QTLs responsible for the resistance of a plant. Such method was proposed by Tanksley and Nelson in 1996 (Tanksley and Nelson, 1996, Advanced backcross QTL analysis: a method for simultaneous discovery and transfer of valuable QTL from un-adapted germplasm into elite breeding lines. Theor Appl Genet 92:191-203) as a new breeding method that integrates the process of QTL discovery with variety development, by simultaneously identifying and transferring useful QTL alleles from un-adapted (e.g., land races, wild species) to elite germplasm, thus broadening the genetic diversity available for breeding. A non-limiting exemplary scheme of AB-QTL mapping strategy is shown in FIG. 2. AB-QTL strategy was initially developed and tested in tomato, and has been adapted for use in other crops including rice, maize, wheat, pepper, barley, and bean. Once favorable QTL alleles are detected, only a few additional marker-assisted generations are required to generate near isogenic lines (NILs) or introgression lines (ILs) that can be field tested in order to confirm the QTL effect and subsequently used for variety development.

Isogenic lines in which favorable QTL alleles have been fixed can be generated by systematic backcrossing and introgressing of marker-defined donor segments in the recurrent parent background. These isogenic lines are referred as near isogenic lines (NILs), introgression lines (ILs), backcross inbred lines (BILs), backcross recombinant inbred lines (BCRIL), recombinant chromosome substitution lines (RCSLs), chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), and stepped aligned inbred recombinant strains (STAIRSs). An introgression line in plant molecular biology is a line of a crop species that contains genetic material derived from a similar species. ILs represent NILs with relatively large average introgression length, while BILs and BCRILs are backcross populations generally containing multiple donor introgressions per line. As used herein, the term “introgression lines or ILs” refers to plant lines containing a single marker defined homozygous donor segment, and the term “pre-ILs” refers to lines which still contain multiple homozygous and/or heterozygous donor segments.

To enhance the rate of progress of introgression breeding, a genetic infrastructure of exotic libraries can be developed. Such an exotic library comprises of a set of introgression lines, each of which has a single, possibly homozygous, marker-defined chromosomal segment that originates from a donor exotic parent, in an otherwise homogenous elite genetic background, so that the entire donor genome would be represented in a set of introgression lines. A collection of such introgression lines is referred as libraries of introgression lines or IL libraries (ILLs). The lines of an ILL cover usually the complete genome of the donor, or the part of interest. Introgression lines allow the study of quantitative trait loci, but also the creation of new varieties by introducing exotic traits. High resolution mapping of QTL using ILLs enable breeders to assess whether the effect on the phenotype is due to a single QTL or to several tightly linked QTL affecting the same trait. In addition, sub-ILs can be developed to discover molecular markers which are more tightly linked to the QTL of interest, which can be used for marker-assisted breeding (MAB). Multiple introgression lines can be developed when the introgression of a single QTL is not sufficient to result in a substantial improvement in agriculturally important traits (Gur and Zamir, Unused natural variation can lift yield barriers in plant breeding, 2004, PLoS Biol.; 2(10):e245).

Plant Transformation

In some embodiments, the present invention provides transformed cantaloupe plants or parts thereof that have been transformed so that its genetic material contains one or more transgenes, preferably operably linked to one or more regulatory elements. Also, the invention provides methods for producing a cantaloupe plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes, preferably operably linked to one or more regulatory elements, by crossing transformed cantaloupe plants with a second plant of another cantaloupe, so that the genetic material of the progeny that results from the cross contains the transgene(s), preferably operably linked to one or more regulatory elements. The invention also provides methods for producing a cantaloupe plant that contains in its genetic material one or more transgene(s), wherein the method comprises crossing a cantaloupe with a second plant of another cantaloupe which contains one or more transgene(s) operably linked to one or more regulatory element(s) so that the genetic material of the progeny that results from the cross contains the transgene(s) operably linked to one or more regulatory element(s). Transgenic cantaloupe plants, or parts thereof produced by the method are in the scope of the present invention.

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and express foreign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, or endogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreign additional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and the present invention, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformed versions of the claimed hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical, plant transformation protocols. See, for example, Miki et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 67-88. In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, for example, Gruber et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 89-119.

i Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation

One method for introducing an expression vector into plants is based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium. See, for example, Horsch et al., Science 227:1229 (1985), Jefferson et al., Embo J. 3901-390764, (1987), Valles et al., PI. Cell. Rep. 145-148:13 (1984). A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes are plant pathogenic soil bacteria which genetically transform plant cells. The Ti and Ri plasmids of A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible for genetic transformation of the plant. See, for example, Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 10:1 (1991). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are provided by Gruber et al., supra, Miki et al., supra, and Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238 (1989). See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997.

ii. Direct Gene Transfer

Despite the fact the host range for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is broad, some major cereal crop species and gymnosperms have generally been recalcitrant to this mode of gene transfer, even though some success has been achieved in rice and corn. Hiei et al., The Plant Journal 6:271-282 (1994) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616 issued Jan. 7, 1997. Several methods of plant transformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, have been developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

A generally applicable method of plant transformation is microprojectile-mediated transformation wherein DNA is carried on the surface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 micron. The expression vector is introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device that accelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which is sufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Sanford et al., Part. Sci. Technol. 5:27 (1987), Sanford, J. C., Trends Biotech. 6:299 (1988), Klein et al., BioTechnology 6:559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant 7:206 (1990), Klein et al., BioTechnology 10:268 (1992). Gray et al., Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 1994, 37:2, 179-184.

Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants is sonication of target cells. Zhang et al., BioTechnology 9:996 (1991). Alternatively, liposome and spheroplast fusion have been used to introduce expression vectors into plants. Deshayes et al., EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985), Christou et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:3962 (1987). Direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol or poly-L-ornithine has also been reported. Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199:161 (1985) and Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982). Electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells and tissues have also been described. D'Halluin et al., Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (1992) and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 24:51-61 (1994).

Any DNA sequence(s), whether from a different species or from the same species that is inserted into the genome using transformation is referred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” In some embodiments of the invention, a transformed variant of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 transgenes. In another embodiment of the invention, a transformed variant of the another cantaloupe plant used as the donor line may contain at least one transgene but could contain at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 transgenes.

Following transformation of cantaloupe target tissues, expression of the above-described selectable marker genes allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation would typically be used for producing a transgenic inbred line or a transgenic hybrid plant. The transgenic inbred line could then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed) inbred line, in order to produce a new transgenic inbred line or plant. Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into a particular cantaloupe plant using the foregoing transformation techniques could be moved into another cantaloupe plant using traditional backcrossing techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from a public, non-elite inbred line into an elite inbred line, or from an inbred line containing a foreign gene in its genome into an inbred line or lines which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

iii Selection

For efficient plant transformation, a selection method must be employed such that whole plants are regenerated from a single transformed cell and every cell of the transformed plant carries the DNA of interest. These methods can employ positive selection, whereby a foreign gene is supplied to a plant cell that allows it to utilize a substrate present in the medium that it otherwise could not use, such as mannose or xylose (for example, refer U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,378; U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,629). More typically, however, negative selection is used because it is more efficient, utilizing selective agents such as herbicides or antibiotics that either kill or inhibit the growth of non-transformed plant cells and reducing the possibility of chimeras. Resistance genes that are effective against negative selective agents are provided on the introduced foreign DNA used for the plant transformation. For example, one of the most popular selective agents used is the antibiotic kanamycin, together with the resistance gene neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), which confers resistance to kanamycin and related antibiotics (see, for example, Messing & Vierra, Gene 19: 259-268 (1982); Bevan et al., Nature 304:184-187 (1983)). However, many different antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes can be used for transformation purposes (refer U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,322, U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,724 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,560). In addition, several herbicides and herbicide resistance genes have been used for transformation purposes, including the bar gene, which confers resistance to the herbicide phosphinothricin (White et al., Nucl Acids Res 18: 1062 (1990), Spencer et al., Theor Appl Genet 79: 625-631 (1990), U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,855, U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,824 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,549). In addition, the dhfr gene, which confers resistance to the anticancer agent methotrexate, has been used for selection (Bourouis et al., EMBO J. 2(7): 1099-1104 (1983).

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that confer resistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase, the bleomycin resistance determinant. Hayford et al., Plant Physiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86 (1987), Svab et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14:197 (1990), Hille et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 7:171 (1986). Other selectable marker genes confer resistance to herbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or bromoxynil. Comai et al., Nature 317:741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2:603-618 (1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423 (1988).

Other selectable marker genes for plant transformation are not of bacterial origin. These genes include, for example, mouse dihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and plant acetolactate synthase. Eichholtz et al., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13:67 (1987), Shah et al., Science 233:478 (1986), Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8:643 (1990).

Another class of marker genes for plant transformation requires screening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful to quantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene in specific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genes because they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for the investigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screening presumptively transformed cells include beta-glucuronidase (GUS, beta-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387 (1987), Teeri et al., EMBO J. 8:343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A. 84:131 (1987), DeBlock et al., EMBO J. 3:1681 (1984), Valles et al, Plant Cell Report 3:3-4 145-148 (1994), Shetty et al., FoodBiotechnology 11:2 111-128 (1997)

In vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity that do not require destruction of plant tissue are also available. However, these in vivo methods for visualizing GUS activity have not proven useful for recovery of transformed cells because of low sensitivity, high fluorescent backgrounds and limitations associated with the use of luciferase genes as selectable markers. A gene encoding Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been utilized as a marker for gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Chalfie et al., Science 263:802 (1994). GFP and mutants of GFP may be used as screenable markers.

iv Expression Vectors

Genes can be introduced in a site directed fashion using homologous recombination. Homologous recombination permits site-specific modifications in endogenous genes and thus inherited or acquired mutations may be corrected, and/or novel alterations may be engineered into the genome. Homologous recombination and site-directed integration in plants are discussed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,451,513; 5,501,967 and 5,527,695.

The expression control elements used to regulate the expression of a given protein can either be the expression control element that is normally found associated with the coding sequence (homologous expression element) or can be a heterologous expression control element. A variety of homologous and heterologous expression control elements are known in the art and can readily be used to make expression units for use in the present invention. Transcription initiation regions, for example, can include any of the various opine initiation regions, such as octopine, mannopine, nopaline and the like that are found in the Ti plasmids of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Alternatively, plant viral promoters can also be used, such as the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S and 35S promoters (CaMV 19S and CaMV 35S promoters, respectively) to control gene expression in a plant (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,352,605; 5,530,196 and 5,858,742 for example). Enhancer sequences derived from the CaMV can also be utilized (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,164,316; 5,196,525; 5,322,938; 5,530,196; 5,352,605; 5,359,142; and 5,858,742 for example). Lastly, plant promoters such as prolifera promoter, fruit specific promoters, Ap3 promoter, heat shock promoters, seed specific promoters, etc. can also be used.

Either a gamete-specific promoter, a constitutive promoter (such as the CaMV or Nos promoter), an organ-specific promoter (such as the E8 promoter from tomato), or an inducible promoter is typically ligated to the protein or antisense encoding region using standard techniques known in the art. The expression unit may be further optimized by employing supplemental elements such as transcription terminators and/or enhancer elements.

Thus, for expression in plants, the expression units will typically contain, in addition to the protein sequence, a plant promoter region, a transcription initiation site and a transcription termination sequence. Unique restriction enzyme sites at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the expression unit are typically included to allow for easy insertion into a pre-existing vector.

In the construction of heterologous promoter/structural gene or antisense combinations, the promoter is preferably positioned about the same distance from the heterologous transcription start site as it is from the transcription start site in its natural setting. As is known in the art, however, some variation in this distance can be accommodated without loss of promoter function.

In addition to a promoter sequence, the expression cassette can also contain a transcription termination region downstream of the structural gene to provide for efficient termination. The termination region may be obtained from the same gene as the promoter sequence or may be obtained from different genes. If the mRNA encoded by the structural gene is to be efficiently processed, DNA sequences which direct polyadenylation of the RNA are also commonly added to the vector construct. Polyadenylation sequences include, but are not limited to the Agrobacterium octopine synthase signal (Gielen et al., EMBO J 3:835-846 (1984)) or the nopaline synthase signal (Depicker et al., Mol. and Appl. Genet. 1:561-573 (1982)). The resulting expression unit is ligated into or otherwise constructed to be included in a vector that is appropriate for higher plant transformation. One or more expression units may be included in the same vector. The vector will typically contain a selectable marker gene expression unit by which transformed plant cells can be identified in culture. Usually, the marker gene will encode resistance to an antibiotic, such as G418, hygromycin, bleomycin, kanamycin, or gentamicin or to an herbicide, such as glyphosate (Round-Up) or glufosinate (BASTA) or atrazine. Replication sequences, of bacterial or viral origin, are generally also included to allow the vector to be cloned in a bacterial or phage host; preferably a broad host range for prokaryotic origin of replication is included. A selectable marker for bacteria may also be included to allow selection of bacterial cells bearing the desired construct. Suitable prokaryotic selectable markers include resistance to antibiotics such as ampicillin, kanamycin or tetracycline. Other DNA sequences encoding additional functions may also be present in the vector, as is known in the art. For instance, in the case of Agrobacterium transformations, T-DNA sequences will also be included for subsequent transfer to plant chromosomes.

To introduce a desired gene or set of genes by conventional methods requires a sexual cross between two lines, and then repeated back-crossing between hybrid offspring and one of the parents until a plant with the desired characteristics is obtained. This process, however, is restricted to plants that can sexually hybridize, and genes in addition to the desired gene will be transferred.

Recombinant DNA techniques allow plant researchers to circumvent these limitations by enabling plant geneticists to identify and clone specific genes for desirable traits, such as improved fatty acid composition, and to introduce these genes into already useful varieties of plants. Once the foreign genes have been introduced into a plant, that plant can then be used in conventional plant breeding schemes (e.g., pedigree breeding, single-seed-descent breeding schemes, reciprocal recurrent selection) to produce progeny which also contain the gene of interest.

v Promoters

Genes included in expression vectors must be driven by nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, a promoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain organs, such as leaves, roots, seeds and tissues such as fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”. Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoter primarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may effect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under most environmental conditions.

A) Inducible Promoters

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe. With an inducible promoter the rate of transcription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant invention. See Ward et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 22:361-366 (1993). Exemplary inducible promoters include, but are not limited to, that from the ACEI system which responds to copper (Mett et al., PNAS 90:4567-4571 (1993)); In2 gene from maize which responds to benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 243:32-38 (1994)) or Tet repressor from Tn10 (Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227:229-237 (1991)). A particularly preferred inducible promoter is a promoter that responds to an inducing agent to which plants do not normally respond. An exemplary inducible promoter is the inducible promoter from a steroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is induced by a glucocorticosteroid hormone (Schena et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:0421 (1991)).

B) Constitutive Promoters

A constitutive promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe or the constitutive promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary constitutive promoters include, but are not limited to, the promoters from plant viruses such as the 35S promoter from CaMV (Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812 (1985)) and the promoters from such genes as rice actin (McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171 (1990)); ubiquitin (Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 (1989) and Christensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689 (1992)); pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588 (1991)); MAS (Velten et al., EMBO J. 3:2723-2730 (1984)) and maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant Journal 2 (3): 291-300 (1992)). The ALS promoter, Xba1/Ncol fragment 5′ to the Brassica napus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to said Xba1/Ncol fragment), represents a particularly useful constitutive promoter. See PCT application WO96/30530.C. Tissue-specific or Tissue-preferred Promoters

A tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe. Optionally, the tissue-specific promoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in cantaloupe. Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to a tissue-specific promoter produce the protein product of the transgene exclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in the instant invention. Exemplary tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, a root-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene (Murai et al., Science 23:476-482 (1983) and Sengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:3320-3324 (1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that from cab or rubisco (Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11):2723-2729 (1985) and Timko et al., Nature 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specific promoter such as that from LAT52 (Twell et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as that from Zm13 or a microspore-preferred promoter such as that from apg (Twell et al., Sex. Plant Reprod. 6:217-224 (1993)).

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments

Transport of protein produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondrion or for secretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operably linking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targeting sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine, during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein is ultimately compartmentalized.

The presence of a signal sequence directs a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, for example Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:49 (1992), Knox, C., et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 9:3-17 (1987), Lerner et al., Plant Physiol. 91:124-129 (1989), Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3:483-496 (1991), Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:834 (1991), Gould et al., J. Cell. Biol. 108:1657 (1989), Creissen et al., Plant J. 2:129 (1991), Kalderon, et al., Cell 39:499-509 (1984), Stiefel, et al., Plant Cell 2:785-793 (1990).

Foreign Protein Genes and Agronomic Genes

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114:92-6 (1981).

According to a one embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is cantaloupe plant. In another preferred embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed. For the relatively small number of transgenic plants that show higher levels of expression, a genetic map can be generated, primarily via conventional RFLP, PCR and SSR analysis, which identifies the approximate chromosomal location of the integrated DNA molecule. For exemplary methodologies in this regard, see Glick and Thompson, Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds., CRC Press, Boca Raton 269:284 (1993). Map information concerning chromosomal location is useful for proprietary protection of a subject transgenic plant. If unauthorized propagation is undertaken and crosses made with other germplasm, the map of the integration region can be compared to similar maps for suspect plants, to determine if the latter have a common parentage with the subject plant. Map comparisons would involve hybridizations, RFLP, PCR, SSR and sequencing, all of which are conventional techniques.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformed plants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genes implicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, those categorized below:

Genes that Confer Resistance to Pests or Disease and that Encode:

A. Plant disease resistance genes. Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between the product of a disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product of a corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant variety can be transformed with one or more cloned resistance gene to engineer plants that are resistant to specific pathogen strains. See, for example Jones et al., Science 266:789 (1994) (cloning of the tomato Cf-9 gene for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum); Martin et al., Science 262:1432 (1993) (tomato Pto gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato encodes a protein kinase); Mindrinos et al., Cell 78:1089 (1994) (Arabidopsis RSP2 gene for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae).

B. A Bacillus thuringiensis protein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeled thereon. See, for example, Geiser et al., Gene 48:109 (1986), who disclose the cloning and nucleotide sequence of a Bt alpha-endotoxin gene. Moreover, DNA molecules encoding alpha-endotoxin genes can be purchased from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va., for example, under ATCC Accession Nos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

C. A lectin. See, for example, the disclosure by Van Damme et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:25 (1994), who disclose the nucleotide sequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes.

D. A vitamin-binding protein such as avidin. See PCT application US93/06487. The application teaches the use of avidin and avidin homologues as larvicides against insect pests.

E. An enzyme inhibitor, for example, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor. See, for example, Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:16793 (1987) (nucleotide sequence of rice cysteine proteinase inhibitor), Huub et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:985 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding tobacco proteinase inhibitor I), Sumitani et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57:1243 (1993) (nucleotide sequence of Streptomyces nitrosporeus alpha-amylase inhibitor).

F. An insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or an antagonist or agonist thereof. See, for example, the disclosure by Hammock et al., Nature 344:458 (1990), of baculovirus expression of cloned juvenile hormone esterase, an inactivator of juvenile hormone.

G. An insect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disrupts the physiology of the affected pest. Pratt et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163:1243 (1989) (an allostatin is identified in Diploptera puntata). See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317 to Tomalski et al., who disclose genes encoding insect-specific, paralytic neurotoxins.

H. An insect-specific venom produced in nature by a snake, a wasp, etc. For example, see Pang et al., Gene 116:165 (1992), for disclosure of heterologous expression in plants of a gene coding for a scorpion insectotoxic peptide.

I. An enzyme responsible for a hyper-accumulation of a monoterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, a hydroxamic acid, a phenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule with insecticidal activity.

J. An enzyme involved in the modification, including the post-translational modification, of a biologically active molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, a proteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, a transaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, a phosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase, whether natural or synthetic. See PCT application WO 93/02197 in the name of Scott et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a callase gene. DNA molecules which contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example, from the ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. See also Kramer et al., Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 23:691 (1993), who teach the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding tobacco hornworm chitinase, and Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:673 (1993), who provide the nucleotide sequence of the parsley ubi4-2 polyubiquitin gene.

K. A molecule that stimulates signal transduction. For example, see the disclosure by Botella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:757 (1994), of nucleotide sequences for mung bean calmodulin cDNA clones, and Griess et al., Plant Physiol. 104:1467 (1994), who provide the nucleotide sequence of a maize calmodulin cDNA clone.

L. A hydrophobic moment peptide. See PCT application WO95/16776 (disclosure of peptide derivatives of Tachyplesin which inhibit fungal plant pathogens) and PCT application WO95/18855 (teaches synthetic antimicrobial peptides that confer disease resistance).

M. A membrane permease, a channel former or a channel blocker. For example, see the disclosure of Jaynes et al., Plant Sci. 89:43 (1993), of heterologous expression of a cecropin-beta, lytic peptide analog to render transgenic tobacco plants resistant to Pseudomonas solanacearum.

N. A viral-invasive protein or a complex toxin derived therefrom. For example, the accumulation of viral coat proteins in transformed plant cells imparts resistance to viral infection and/or disease development effected by the virus from which the coat protein gene is derived, as well as by related viruses. See Beachy et al., Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 28:451 (1990). Coat protein-mediated resistance has been conferred upon transformed plants against alfalfa mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco streak virus, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, tobacco rattle virus and tobacco mosaic virus. Id.

O. An insect-specific antibody or an immunotoxin derived therefrom. Thus, an antibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gut would inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect

P. A virus-specific antibody. See, for example, Tavladoraki et al., Nature 366:469 (1993), who show that transgenic plants expressing recombinant antibody genes are protected from virus attack.

Q. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. Thus, fungal endo-alpha-1, 4-D-polygalacturonases facilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release by solubilizing plant cell wall homo-alpha-1, 4-D-galacturonase. See Lamb et al., BioTechnology 10:1436 (1992). The cloning and characterization of a gene which encodes a bean endopolygalacturonase-inhibiting protein is described by Toubart et al., Plant J. 2:367 (1992).

R. A developmental-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant. For example, Logemann et al., BioTechnology 10:305 (1992), have shown that transgenic plants expressing the barley ribosome-inactivating gene have an increased resistance to fungal disease.

Genes that Confer Resistance to an Herbicide, for Example:

A. An herbicide that inhibits the growing point or meristem, such as an imidazolinone or a sulfonylurea. Exemplary genes in this category code for mutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee et al., EMBO J. 7:1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 80:449 (1990), respectively.

B. Glyphosate (resistance conferred by mutant 5-enolpyruvlshikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP) and aroA genes, respectively) and other phosphono compounds such as glufosinate (phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT) and Streptomyces hygroscopicus PAT, bar, genes), and pyridinoxy or phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexones (ACCase inhibitor-encoding genes). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835 to Shah, et al., which discloses the nucleotide sequence of a form of EPSP which can confer glyphosate resistance. A DNA molecule encoding a mutant aroA gene can be obtained under ATCC accession number 39256, and the nucleotide sequence of the mutant gene is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061 to Comai. European patent application No. 0 333 033 to Kumada et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374 to Goodman et al., disclose nucleotide sequences of glutamine synthatase genes which confer resistance to herbicides such as L-phosphinothricin. The nucleotide sequence of a PAT gene is provided in European application No. 0 242 246 to Leemans et al. DeGreef et al., BioTechnology 7:61 (1989), describe the production of transgenic plants that express chimeric bar genes coding for PAT activity. Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy propionic acids and cyclohexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2 and Acc1-S3 genes described by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 83:435 (1992).

C. An herbicide that inhibits photosynthesis, such as a triazine (psbA and gs+ genes) or a benzonitrile (nitrilase gene). Przibilla et al., Plant Cell 3:169 (1991), describe the transformation of Chlamydomonas with plasmids encoding mutant psbA genes. Nucleotide sequences for nitrilase genes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,648 to Stalker, and DNA molecules containing these genes are available under ATCC Accession Nos. 53435, 67441, and 67442. Cloning and expression of DNA coding for a glutathione S-transferase is described by Hayes et al., Biochem. J. 285:173 (1992).

Genes that Confer or Contribute to a Value-Added Trait, Such as:

A. Increased sweetness and flavor of the fruit by introduction of a gene encoding sweet-tasting proteins such as monellin (Penarrubia et al., Biotechnology. 1992, 10: 5, 561-564) or thaumatin (Bartoszewski et al, Plant Breeding 122, 347-351 (2003)).

B. Reduced ethylene biosynthesis to control ripening by introduction of an antisense construct of the ACC oxidase into Cucumis melo. For example, see Ayub et al, Nature Biotechnology 14: 862 (1996)

C. Delayed senescence and improved ripening control by transferring a gene or acting on the transcription of a gene involved in plant senescence. See Wang et al. in Plant Mol. Bio. 52:1223-1235 (2003) on the role of the deoxyhypusine synthase in the senescence. See also U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,182 issued Mar. 25, 2003.

D. Improved salt tolerance by transforming Cucumis melo plant with HAL 1, a yeast regulatory gene involved in stress tolerance, as shown in Serrano et al., Scientia Horticulturae. 1999, 78: 1/4, 261-269 or in Bordas et al., Transgenic Research. 1997, 6: 1, 41-50.

E. Obtained male sterile plants, especially useful in hybrid melon production, by introduction of a gene encoding a tobacco PR Glucanase as described in tomato (WO9738116) but that can also be used in melon.

Tissue Culture

As it is well known in the art, tissue culture of cantaloupe can be used for the in vitro regeneration of cantaloupe plants. Tissues cultures of various tissues of cantaloupe and regeneration of plants therefrom are well known and published. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants as described in Dirks R., et al. Plant Cell Report 7: 8 626-627 (1989); Homma, Y., et al. Japan J. Breeding. 41:543-551 (1991). Yoshioka, K., et al. Japan J. Breeding. 42:277-285 (1992); Debeaujon, I., et al. Plant Cell Report 12:37-40 (1992); Debeaujon, I., et al. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Culture 34:91-100 (1993); Fang, G. W., et al. Molecular Plant—Microbe Interactions 6:358-367 (1993); Valles, M. P., et al. Plant Cell Report 13:145-148 (1994); Ezura, H., et al. Plant Cell Report 14:107-111 (1994); Kathal, R., et al. Plant Science 96:137-142 (1994); Adelberg, J. W., et al. Hortscience 29:689-692 (1994). More precisely, in the case of the melon (C. melo), regeneration through organogenesis has been described either directly on cotyledons placed in culture (Dirks, R. et al., Plant Cell Report, 7:626-627 (1989)), or through the intermediary of calli derived from cotyledons (Mackay, W. et al., Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative, 11:33-34 (1988), Orts, M. et al., Hort. Science, 22:666 (1987)), hypocotyls (Abak, K. et al., Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report, 3:27-29 (1980), Kathal, R. et al., J. Plant Physiol., 126:59-62 (1986)) or leaves (Kathal, R. et al., Plant Cell Report, 7:449-451 (1988)). The production of melon plants derived from somatic embryos has also been reported, Oridate, T. et al., Japan J. Breeding, 36:424-428 (1986), Branchard, M. et al., C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 307, Serie 111:777-780 (1988). Also, De Both et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,022 teach how to regenerate plants having a normal phenotype from cotyledons. It is clear from the literature that the state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are routinely used and have a very high rate of success. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce cantaloupe plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, meristematic cells, axillary buds, ovaries, seed coat, endosperm, hypocotyls, cotyledons and the like. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185, 5,973,234, and 5,977,445 describe certain techniques, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification.

Example 1 Development of New BRONCO Cantaloupe Variety

Hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO has superior characteristics and has been developed through the crossing of cantaloupe inbred line M056WN with cantaloupe inbred line I407.

Inbred cantaloupe M056WN is a selection from a family of double haploid lines created by the development of haploid individuals from an F1 line. Both parents of the F1 line were elite proprietary lines containing different but complimentary traits. Parent A is a large fruited, early maturing, monoecious, fully netted western shipper inbred with resistance to Powdery mildew race 2 (US). Parent A has medium firm flesh with medium sugar content and medium orange flesh color. Parent B is a small fruited, later maturing, andromonoecious, heavily netted western shipper inbred with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum spp. Melonis race 0 and 2. Parent B has extremely firm flesh with high sugar content and dark orange flesh color.

The F1 between parent A and parent B was made in Chile in the first year. The F1 was planted in the summer of the first year in Davis, Calif. and was pollinated with irradiated pollen to induce the development of haploid embryos. Haploid embryos were harvested in September of first year, placed on callus media, and then doubled in order to obtain double haploid plantlets. These double haploid plants were grown in the greenhouse in Davis in the spring of second year and were self-pollinated to obtain seed of each DH (double haploid) event. 22 unique DH lines were successfully recovered and were planted in the open field at Davis in for initial evaluation. M056WN was one of the DH events from this group. In third year, M056WN was sent to Chile and a set of hybrids was developed using this as a new parent. One of these hybrids was to become the variety Bronco. Concurrently and continuing through year four, M056WN was evaluated in multiple locations including Davis field and Immokalee Fla. It was also screened for resistance to Powdery mildew race 2 (US) and Fusarium oxysporum spp. Melonis race 0 and 2. After three years of evaluation M056WN was determined to be an exceptional breeding line combining many desirable traits from Parents A and B. It is a medium to large size, fully netted western shipper inbred, andromonecious with very dark orange flesh color and firm flesh. It is mid early in maturity and has a strong plant that is broadly adaptable. It is resistant to Fusarium oxysporum spp. Melonis race 0 and 2 and has intermediate resistance (IR) to Powdery mildew race 2 (US). This line also expresses high level of sugar under many different conditions. It has proven to have excellent combining ability and very broad utilization.

Inbred I407 was developed by self-pollinating a very successful commercial variety. The F1 was self-pollinated in the first year and the line development activity (F2-F9) was conducted at both Davis, Calif. and Ruskin, Fla. It was developed using a pedigree breeding method. It was selected for excellent fruit size and shape, medium orange flesh color and a very small seed cavity. It is mid early in maturity, with a fine, medium closed net. The breeding and pathology screening work on I407 was completed in year five at which time a number of experimental hybrids were made with I407. It has intermediate resistance to Powdery mildew race 2 (US) and is tolerant to sulfur application.

Hybrid cantaloupe plant Bronco is similar to hybrid cantaloupe plant Oro Rico. While similar to hybrid cantaloupe plant Oro Rico, there are significant differences including: Bronco matures at least 4 days earlier than Oro Rico. Bronco has a more concentrated harvest period, with all marketable fruit maturing within a 10 day period under summer conditions in Davis Calif. Oro Rico has a more extended harvest period, with all marketable fruit maturing within a 16 day period. Fruit weight for Bronco is approximately 29% larger than Oro Rico. Under postharvest conditions, 11 days at 5 degrees C., the external firmness is approximately 70% firmer than Oro Rico. While both varieties have good netting, Bronco's netting has a more coarse texture based on trial data at many locations. Data across at least 5 trial locations indicate that Bronco has a soluble solids (brix or sugar level) 1.5 degrees higher than Oro Rico.

Some of the criteria used to select the hybrids as well as their inbred parent lines in various generations include Vine strength, concentration of fruit set, yield, netting density and type, fruit shape, fruit size, maturity, flesh color, flesh firmness, cavity size, sex type, brix, immature skin color.

The hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO has shown uniformity and stability for the traits, within the limits of environmental influence for the traits as described in the following Variety Descriptive Information. No variant traits have been observed or are expected for agronomical important traits in cantaloupe hybrid BRONCO.

Hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO has the following morphologic and other characteristics, as compared to Oro Rico (based primarily on data collected in California, all experiments done under the direct supervision of the applicant).

TABLE 1 Variety Description Information BRONCO Variety Plant Type Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Region Where Western U.S.A. Developed Area of Best Central California, Arizona Adaptation for U.S.A. Maturity 80 days (4 days earlier than Oro Rico variety) Leaf Morphology (Average Values From Mature Blade of Third Leaf) Shape Slightly lobed Length 101 mm Width 143 mm Surface Pubescent Fruit Morphology (Average Values at Edible Maturity) Length 17 cm Diameter 16 cm Weight 2130 gm Shape Round, slightly oval Surface Full netted, no vein tracts Blossom Scar Medium, slightly conspicuous Ribs Not present Number of Ribs per N/A fruit Rib Width at Medial N/A Sutures N/A Shipping Quality Excellent Fruit Abcise At maturity Long Shelf life No Rind Net (At Edible Maturity) Distribution Complete and closed Coarseness Medium course Rind Color (Average Values at Edible Maturity): Primary Color Green Net Color Gray Mottling Color Orange Furrow (Suture) N/A Color Flesh Morphology (Average Values at Edible Maturity) Color Near Cavity Deep orange Color in Center Deep orange Color near rind Orange Refractometer- 12.8% (Compared to 11.9% SSC for Oro Rico) Soluble Solids Aroma Fruity and slightly musky Flavor Moderate cantaloupe flavor Seed Cavity (Average Values at Edible Maturity) Length 60 mm Width 60 mm Shape in Cross- Triangulate Section Disease Resistance - Rating (1 = susceptible - 5 = resistant) Bacterial Wilt 1 Powdery Mildew 3 (Podosphaera xanthii and Erysiphe cichoracearum) Watermelon Mosaic 1 Anthracnose 1 Root Rot 1 Verticillum Wilt 3 Cucumber Mosaic 1 Fusarium Wilt 5 (to U.S. races 0.2) (fusarium oxysporum 1 (to U.S. race 1) spp. Melonis) Melon Rust 1

Example 2 Comparison of New BRONCO Cantaloupe with Check Variety

In the tables that follow, the traits and characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO are given compared to another hybrid. The data collected are presented for key characteristics and traits. Hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO was tested at numerous locations, with two or three replications per location. Information about the hybrid, as compared to several check hybrid is presented.

Table 2 below shows the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO as compared to hybrid Oro Rico. Column 1 (Variety ID) identifies the plant, column 2 (Weight) describes the fruit weight which is measured in kilograms, columns 3 (ExtFirm_P1) and 4 (ExtFirm_P2) show the average of exterior fruit firmness measured in lbs/square inch resistance (2 readings (P1 and P2) per fruit after netting being removed), column 5 (ExtColor) shows the exterior color, i.e. a subjective rating on a 1-4 scale where 1 is green appearance and 4 is ripe appearance, column 6 (MOTTLE) shows the mottle, i.e. a subjective rating on a 1-4 scale for the presence of a mottled ripening appearance where 1 is no mottle and 4 is excessive mottle, column 7 (SurfaceMold) shows the average of surface mold, i.e. a subjective rating on a 1-4 scale for the presence of mold on the fruit surface where 1 is no mold and 4 is heavy mold.

TABLE 2 VarietyID WEIGHT ExtFirm_P1 ExtFirm_P2 ExtColor MOTTLE SurfaceMold ORO 1.41 6.98 7.00 3.14 1.53 1.03 RICO BRONCO 1.82 13.36 11.74 3.21 1.21 1.21

Table 3 below shows the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO as compared to hybrid Oro Rico. Column 1 (VarietyID) identifies the plant, column 2 (IntColor) describes the interior color i.e. a subjective rating on a 1-4 scale for the color where 1 is very pale orange and 4 is very dark orange, column 3 (IntFirm_P1) and 4 (IntFirm_P2) show the interior fruit firmness measured in lbs/square inch resistance (2 readings (P1 and P2) per fruit at 90 degrees and 270 degrees in center of flesh between rind and cavity, column 5 (Avg of BRIX) shows the brix, i.e. the sugar content measured in degrees brix.

TABLE 3 VarietyID IntColor IntFirm_P1 IntFirm_P2 Avg Of BRIX ORO 2.89 2.38 2.44 9.91 RICO BRONCO 3.11 3.07 3.06 9.57

Table 4 below shows the characteristics of hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO as compared to hybrid Oro Rico. Column 1 (Variety) identifies the plant, column 2 (Vine) describes the vine as an indication of the strength of the vine, where “str” is strong and “avg” is average, column 3 (Yield) describes the yield as a subjective determination of the yield potential where “lo” is lower yielding, “avg” is average yielding and “hi” is high yielding, column 4 (Concentration of yield) shows concentration of yield on the plant where “con” is concentrated set and “sem” is semi concentrated set, column 5 (Maturity) shows the relative maturity of each variety based on ripening fruit where “me” is mid early, “m” is main maturity and “l” is late maturity, column 6 (Net Spacing) shows the net spacing, i.e. the relative degree of openness of netting on fruit where “med” is medium net spacing and “cl” is closed net spacing, column 7 (Net Type) shows the net type, i.e. the relative thickness and width of fruit netting where “med” is medium texture net and “med cs” is medium coarse netting, column 8 (Fruit Shape) shows the shape of the fruit from “rnd” which is round to “rslov” which is round to slight oval, column 9 (Fruit Size) shows the fruit size which is represented by the number of fruit that will fit into a standardized box where 9 equals 9 fruits per box a box, 12 equals 12 fruit per box etc., column 10 (Brix) shows the brix, i.e. the sugar content measured in degrees brix.

TABLE 4 Concentration Net Net Fruit Fruit Variety Vine Yield of yield Maturity Spacing Type Shape Size Brix BRONCO str avg sem me med med rnd 9-12 14.4 ORO avg hi sem m med med rnd 12-15  11 RICO BRONCO avg lo sem l cl Medcs rslov 9 13.8 ORO str hi sem me med med rnd 9-12 11.4 RICO BRONCO avg hi sem me med Medcs ov 9 12.5 ORO str hi sem m med med mov 9-12 12 RICO BRONCO str hi sem m med med rnd 9-12 14 ORO avg hi con l med med rnd 12-15  12 RICO

Deposit Information

A deposit of the cantaloupe seed of this invention is maintained by HM.CLAUSE, Inc. Davis Research Station, 9241 Mace Boulevard, Davis, Calif. 95616. In addition, a sample of the hybrid cantaloupe seed of this invention has been deposited with the National Collections of Industrial, Food and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB), 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB24 3RY, United Kingdom.

To satisfy the enablement requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, and to certify that the deposit of the isolated strain of the present invention meets the criteria set forth in 37 CFR 1.801-1.809, Applicants hereby make the following statements regarding the deposited hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO (deposited as NCIMB Accession No. ______):

1. During the pendency of this application, access to the invention will be afforded to the Commissioner upon request; 2. Upon granting of the patent the strain will be available to the public under conditions specified in 37 CFR 1.808; 3. The deposit will be maintained in a public repository for a period of 30 years or 5 years after the last request or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer; and 4. The deposit will be replaced if it should ever become unavailable. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. §1.14 and 35 U.S.C. §122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictions on the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocably removed by affording access to a deposit of at least 2,500 seeds of the same variety with the NCIMB.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All references, articles, publications, patents, patent publications, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

However, mention of any reference, article, publication, patent, patent publication, and patent application cited herein is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that they constitute valid prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in any country in the world. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of hybrid cantaloupe designated BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid was deposited under NCIMB No ______.
 2. A cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. The cantaloupe part of claim 2, wherein the cantaloupe part is selected from the group consisting of: a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, a cell a rootstock, and a scion.
 4. A cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, having all of the characteristics of hybrid BRONCO listed in Table
 1. 5. A cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, having all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid was deposited under NCIMB No ______.
 6. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plant or plant part of claim 2, wherein cells of the tissue culture are produced from a plant part selected from the group consisting of protoplasts, embryos, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, ovules, flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers, stems, petioles, fruits, cotyledons and hypocotyls.
 7. A protoplast produced from the tissue culture of claim
 6. 8. A cantaloupe plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 6, said plant having the characteristics of hybrid BRONCO, wherein a representative sample of seed of said hybrid was deposited under NCIMB No ______.
 9. A cantaloupe fruit produced from the plant of claim
 2. 10. A method for producing a cantaloupe fruit comprising a) growing the cantaloupe plant of claim 2 to produce a cantaloupe fruit, and b) harvesting said cantaloupe fruit.
 11. A cantaloupe fruit produced by the method of claim
 10. 12. A method for producing a cantaloupe seed comprising crossing a first parent cantaloupe plant with a second parent cantaloupe plant and harvesting the resultant cantaloupe seed, wherein said first parent cantaloupe plant and/or second parent cantaloupe plant is the cantaloupe plant of claim
 2. 13. The cantaloupe seed produced by the method of claim
 12. 14. A method for producing a cantaloupe seed comprising self-pollinating the cantaloupe plant of claim 2 and harvesting the resultant cantaloupe seed.
 15. A cantaloupe seed produced by the method of claim
 14. 16. A method of vegetatively propagating the cantaloupe plant of claim 2, said method comprising a) collecting part of a plant of claim 2 and b) regenerating a plant from said part.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising harvesting a fruit from said plant.
 18. The plant obtained from the method of claim
 16. 19. The fruit obtained from the method of claim
 17. 20. A method of producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO, the method comprising the steps of: (a) self-pollinating the plant of claim 2 at least once to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b) and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of: (d) repeating steps b) or c) for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.
 22. A method of producing a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid variety BRONCO, the method comprising the steps of: (a) crossing the plant of claim 2 with a second cantaloupe plant to produce a progeny plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant of step (a) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a seed; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed produced in step (b); (d) crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation of step (c) with itself or a second cantaloupe plant to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.
 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of: (d) repeating step b) or c) for at least 1 more generation to produce a cantaloupe plant derived from the hybrid cantaloupe variety BRONCO.
 24. A method for producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant, the method comprising crossing a first cantaloupe plant of claim 2 with a second cantaloupe plant containing a transgene, wherein the transgene of said second cantaloupe plant is integrated into the genome of the cantaloupe plant progeny resulting from said cross, and wherein the transgene confers said cantaloupe plant progeny with at least one trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, and improved salt tolerance.
 25. A cantaloupe plant, or a part thereof, produced by the method of claim
 24. 26. A method for producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant, the method comprising transforming at least one transgene into a hybrid cantaloupe BRONCO plant, or a plant part or a plant cell thereof or parental line used for producing the hybrid cantaloupe plant BRONCO, a sample seed of said hybrid having been deposited under NCIMB Accession No. ______, thereby producing a transgenic cantaloupe plant.
 27. A plant produced by the method of claim
 26. 28. The plant of claim 2, wherein said plant further comprises a transgene.
 29. The plant of claim 28 wherein the transgene confers said plant with a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, and improved salt tolerance.
 30. The plant of claim 2 comprising at least one single locus conversion.
 31. The plant of claim 30 wherein the at least one single locus conversion confers said plant with a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, increased sweetness, increased sugar content, increased flavor, improved ripening control, long shelf life, specific aromatic compounds and improved salt tolerance
 32. The plant of claim 31 wherein the at least one single locus conversion is an artificially mutated gene. 